Kari Ikonen


Kari Ikonen 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 at Jyväskylä Institute of Music, Ikonen continued his studies 1994 in piano and later in composition at the Jazz Music Department of Sibelius Academy, with such teachers as Jarmo Savolainen, Jukkis Uotila, Anders Jormin, Maria Schneider, Mike Gibbs, Sonny Heinilä and Olli Kortekangas. 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, The Guards Brass Septet, Jyväskylä Big Band, Tanguedia Quintet, Quinteto Otra Vez and Uusinta!-chamber orchestra.
Ikonen has worked with Louis Sclavis, Lee Konitz, Ingrid Jensen, Bob Moses, Stan Sultzman, Vincent Courtois, Mathias Eick, UMO, Juhani Aaltonen, Eero Koivistoinen, 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.
WWW Official Site𝕏 kariikonenFB thekariikonen

Discography (selected)

As leader

Kari Ikonen TrioWind, Frost & Radiation AJMiLIVE #14 Beauteous Tales And Offbeat Stories Bright
Kari IkonenImpressions, Improvisations and Compositions Ikonostasis Karikko
Kari Ikonen & KarikkoThe Helsinki Suite
  • ''Oceanophonic''

Collaborations / As musician

Trio ToffaPositive
Quartet AjatonElixir
Orchestra Nazionale della LunaOrchestra Nazionale Della Luna
AhavaAhava
Slo MotiveArrival
GnomusGnomus Diagnosis Jazz-Emma-nominé!Gnomus: 28 Août 2005 Gnomus II Gnomus
Lang & Luolajan-MikkolaTransit
Markus HolkkoMarkus Holkko: From Circuits With Love Markus Holkko Quartet: Being Here ''Jazz-Emma-prize!
Mr FoneboneHit and Run Mr Fonebone live featuring Ingrid Jensen Mr Fonebone
Otto DonnerOtto Donner Free For All: Live at the Five Corners
Quartet CoyoteTRJVK + voc. Moisturizing''

Recorded compositions

UMO Jazz OrchestraUmo on Umo Sauna Palaa
Quinteto ¡Otra Vez! & La Nueva Orquesta de Cuerdas
  • ''Quinteto ¡Otra Vez! & La Nueva Orquesta de Cuerdas''

Awards, grants and residencies

Awards and honors
  • 2000 First prize at Jazz Composers Alliance/Julius Hemphill Composition Awards, USA
  • 2001 Jazz-Emma 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