Kari Ikonen

The 2013 Yrjö Award recipient as the Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year, pianist, moogist and composer Kari Ikonen (b.1973) is currently active as solo pianist, and with his own trio, duo with Louis Sclavis, duo with Tom Arthurs, and several other bands and projects like Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, Quartet Ajaton and Trio Toffa. He has worked with the likes of Lee Konitz, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Jensen, Magnus Broo, Vincent Courtois, Jeff Denson, Ron McClure and UMO Jazz Orchestra. Kari has performed in Sovyet Union, South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Armenia, Turkey, Russia and 30 european countries. His playing and/or compositions have been recorded for more than 50 albums, 8 of these on his own name. His compositions have been honoured internationally, taking first prizes in the American “Julius Hemphill Composition Awards” and in the Italian “Scrivere in Jazz”.