Yuko Ito – Mania De Voce

Yuko Ito’s new CD Mania De Voc� represents her profound respect and love for Brazilian music with renditions of classic works of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Djavan, Luiz Gonzaga, Rita Lee, Carlinhos Brown and Baden Powell. A native of Tokyo, Japan, she has been performing publicly in wide range of styles: pop, rock, R&B, jazz funk, gospel, free jazz and various forms of Brazilian music since high school. 

Her early musical career began when she founded the girl’s rock band Sissy Boy, which produced two CDs: Marcy’s Factory, with Vaan Media, and Kick Off Boy’s, with Crown Records Japan. Even with her early success in Japan, Yuko’s musical vision was broad and she chose to move to New York in 1994.  A vocal coach soon encouraged her to explore jazz and eventually this led to her receiving B.F.A degree from City College of New York in music (Jazz Vocal Performance). 

After a jam session Yuko attended while still in school, she was invited by jazz artist Sabir Mateen to perform with him.  This encouraged her to continue to draw deeply from the jazz tradition in her work. She has performed with the Harlem Gospel Choir and appeared at Blue Note (New York), She has also performed with the Harlem Gospel Choir in Times Square on Good Morning America (ABC) and “New Yorker”( NHK BS1).

Having been lured by positive lyrics, unique beats and passionate movement, Yuko grew with her rebellious rock attitude into a mature songstress and it shows on her new album Mania De Voc� . Yuko Ito, originally from Japan, has evolved into a born again Brazilian New Yorker.