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 with his own trio and several other bands and projects like Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, trio Toffa, Quartet Ajaton and Jeff Denson Trio. He has worked with the likes of Louis Sclavis, Lee Konitz, Bob Moses, Ingrid Jensen, Magnus Broo, Vincent Courtois and Ron McClure. Kari has performed in Australia, South Korea, Japan, USA, Armenia, Turkey, Russia and 30 European countries. His playing and/or compositions have been recorded for more than 40 albums, 7 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”. He also works as a part-time professor at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Awards
-First prize at the "Scrivere in Jazz" composition contest in Sassari, Italy 2002. -First prize at Jazz Composers Alliance/Julius Hemphill Composition Awards, USA 2000. -"Jazz-Emma" - Prize (Finland's Grammy) for the best jazz-cd of 2001.
Gear
Piano, Rhodes Mark V 73, Mark II 88, Moog Rogue, Korg PolySix etc.
Tags
Nordic Sounds
Album Review
- Karikko by Matthew Wuethrich
Multiple Reviews
Radio & Podcasts
- Wind, Frost & Radiation with Kari Ikonen
- Kari Ikonen, Matt Piet, Alberto Pinton & Some New Year's Eve Dancin’
- One Man’s Jazz Show 1200th Show Special
“Inventive, spright and clever, Bright is not just a good Nordic jazz record, it’s world-class good.” -Something Else Reviews (USA)
“Mit seiner aus jeder Note berstenden Lust aufs Zusammenspiel, durch eine besondere Klangschönheit und Harmoniefülle (…) erzeugt eine CD wie ,,Bright” schon vom ersten Ton an Aufmerksamkeit.” -Jazzthing (DE) April / Mai 2013
”With The Helsinski Suite, Ikonen has created once again his own perspectives of, or reactions to, or elaborations upon, various genres. At the same time, he has set up opportunities for the members of Karikko to personalize his music through exceptional individual performances as well.” -Cadence (USA)
Primary Instrument
Piano
Location
Helsinki
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Photos
Album Discography
Videos
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