Kari Ikonen (born 1973) is a Finnish pianist, Moog player, and composer. He received the Yrjö-award from Jazz Finland in 2013, as the Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year. After having studied piano with Matti Laukkanen for four years (1989–1993) at Jyväskylä Institute of Music, Ikonen continued his studies 1994 in piano and later in composition at the Jazz Music Department of

Sibelius Academy The Sibelius Academy ( fi, Taideyliopiston Sibelius-Akatemia, sv, Sibelius-Akademin vid Konstuniversitetet) is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki and a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It als ...

, with such teachers as

Jarmo Savolainen Jarmo Savolainen (24 May 1961 – 11 June 2009) was a Finnish jazz pianist and composer. He was born in Iisalmi, Eastern Finland, and first studied classical piano. He later turned his attention to jazz and studied at Berklee College of Mu ...

, Jukkis Uotila, Anders Jormin, Maria Schneider, Mike Gibbs, Sonny Heinilä and

Olli Kortekangas Olli Paavo Antero Kortekangas (born 16 May 1955) is a Finnish composer. Kortekangas was born in Turku. His early career in music began at Espoon Musiikkiopisto (Espoo Music Institute) and the youth choir Candomino. He then studied at the Sibel ...

. He also spent a semester in 1996 at the Rotterdam conservatorium, where he studied with Rob van Kreevelt. He got his master's degree from Sibelius Academy in 2001. He led the band Karikko for close to 15 years and was active in bands such as Gnomus, Mia Simanainen's Ahava-band, Slo Motive and Markus Holkko Quartet. In addition to many small jazz groups, Ikonen has composed music to European Saxophone Ensemble,

UMO Jazz Orchestra 250px, UMO Jazz Orchestra UMO Jazz Orchestra is a Finnish big band. It was founded in 1975 by jazz musicians Heikki Sarmanto and Esko Linnavalli. UMO is an abbreviation of "Uuden Musiikin Orkesteri" (New Musical Orchestra). Since 1984 UMO has bee ...

, The Guards Brass Septet, Jyväskylä Big Band, Tanguedia Quintet, Quinteto Otra Vez and Uusinta!-chamber orchestra. Ikonen has worked with Louis Sclavis,

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz ...

, Ingrid Jensen,

Bob Moses Robert Moses (1888–1981) was an American city planner. Robert Moses may also refer to: * Bob Moses (activist) (1935–2021), American educator and civil rights activist * Bob Moses, American football player in the 1962 Cotton Bowl Classic * Bob M ...

, Stan Sultzman,

Vincent Courtois Vincent Courtois (born 21 March 1968) is a French jazz cellist. Biography Courtois studied classical cello at the Conservatory of Aubervilliers, first with Erwan Fauré, and then with Roland Pidoux and Frédéric Lodéon. He also played Didier ...

, Mathias Eick, UMO,

Juhani Aaltonen Juhani Aaltonen (born December 12, 1935) is a Finnish jazz saxophonist and flautist. Born in Kouvola, Finland, he studied at Sibelius Academy and Berklee College of Music. He began playing professionally at the end of the 1950s. He played in a ...

Eero Koivistoinen Eero Koivistoinen (born 13 January 1946, in Helsinki) is a Finnish jazz musician and saxophone player, who started his career in the mid-1960s. Koivistoinen has worked as a musician, composer, arranger, conductor, producer and educator. He first h ...

, and Otto Donner. Ikonen's playing and/or compositions can be heard on more than 40 records. Apart from playing and composing, Ikonen has worked as a teacher at Jyväskylä Institute of Music 1993–1994, Estonia Academy of Music and Theater 2007–2011 and Sibelius Academy since 1998. He is active with Kari Ikonen Trio, Trio Toffa, Quartet Ajaton, Jeff Denson Trio and Orchestra Nazionale della Luna.

Discography (selected)

As leader

Kari Ikonen Trio * ''Wind, Frost & Radiation'' (Ozella Music 2018) (to be released in April 2018) * ''AJMiLIVE #14'' (AJMiLIVE 2016) * ''Beauteous Tales And Offbeat Stories'' (Ozella Music 2015) * ''Bright'' (Ozella Music 2013) Kari Ikonen * ''Impressions, Improvisations and Compositions'' (Ozella, 2021) * ''Ikonostasis'' (Ozella, 2017) * ''Karikko'' (Fiasko Records 2001) Kari Ikonen & Karikko * ''The Helsinki Suite'' (Eclipse Music 2011) * ''Oceanophonic'' (Texicalli Records 2008)

Collaborations / As musician

Trio Toffa * ''Positive'' (Eclipse Music 2016) Quartet Ajaton * ''Elixir'' (Ecplipse Music 2016) Orchestra Nazionale della Luna * ''Orchestra Nazionale Della Luna'' (Jazz Avatars 2017) Ahava * ''Ahava'' (Fiasko Records 2001) Slo Motive * ''Arrival'' (Eclipse Music 2012) Gnomus * ''Gnomus Diagnosis'' (Fiasko Records 2007) Jazz-Emma-nominé! * ''Gnomus: 28 Août 2005'' (Fiasko Records 2005) * ''Gnomus II'' (Fiasko Records 2004) * ''Gnomus'' (Fiasko Records 2000) Lang & Luolajan-Mikkola * ''Transit'' (RockAdillo 2005) Markus Holkko * ''Markus Holkko: From Circuits With Love'' (Texicalli 2010) * ''Markus Holkko Quartet: Being Here'' (Jupiter 2007) ''Jazz-Emma-prize!'' Mr Fonebone * ''Hit and Run'' (Texicalli 2007) * ''Mr Fonebone live featuring Ingrid Jensen'' (Texicalli 2001) * ''Mr Fonebone'' (Antti Rissanen 1997) Otto Donner * ''Otto Donner Free For All: Live at the Five Corners'' (TUM 2010) Quartet Coyote * ''TRJVK + voc.'' (Texicalli 2004) * ''Moisturizing'' (Texicalli 2000)

Recorded compositions

UMO Jazz Orchestra * ''Umo on Umo'' (UMO 2008) * ''Sauna Palaa'' (UMO 2005) Quinteto ¡Otra Vez! & La Nueva Orquesta de Cuerdas * ''Quinteto ¡Otra Vez! & La Nueva Orquesta de Cuerdas'' (Otra Vez 2005)

Awards, grants and residencies

Awards and honors * 2000 First prize at Jazz Composers Alliance/Julius Hemphill Composition Awards, USA * 2001 Jazz-Emma (Finland's Grammy) for the best jazz album of 2001 * 2002 First prize at the "Scrivere in Jazz" composition contest in Sassari, Italy * 2012 Nominated for the Teosto Award for the compositions of the album The Helsinki Suite * 2013 The Yrjö Award as the Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year 2013 Grants * 2011 1.5-year artist grant from the Arts Council of Finland * 2014 1-year artist grant from the Kone Foundation * 2017 5-year artist grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland Numerous smaller grants from Finnish Culture Foundation, The Finnish Arts Council, MES, ESEK, LUSES, Georg Malmstén Foundation and others. Artist residencies * 2004, 2015 and 2018 at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris * 2005 Villa Karo in Benin * 2006 Hot Clube de Portugal/Pepiniérès pour Jeunes Artistes in Lisbon * 2011 ACSL in Yerevan, Armenia * 2012 Circolo Scandinavo in Rome

References

External links

*
Kari Ikonen on Jazz Finland's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikonen, Kari Living people 1973 births Finnish jazz composers Finnish jazz pianists 21st-century pianists