Kari Ikonen Trio (FIN/ARM)
Kari Ikonen - piano
Ara Yaralyan - bass
Markku Ounaskari - drums
This very special trio cooks with the best Nordic ingredients, the art of Afro-American cuisine and finest Oriental spices.
Chef Kari Ikonen and his team serve up a menu that combines his own creations with fresh interpretations of traditional Armenian dishes and classic recipes from cordons bleus like Coltrane or Shorter. Also delicious take-away available - the trio's debut album Bright, released in April 2013 by the respected German label Ozella, has been a success in tastings all over the world. German JAZZTHETIK and American Something Else Reviews chose Bright on their lists of the best jazz albums of 2013....
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Kari Ikonen Trio (FIN/ARM)
Kari Ikonen - piano
Ara Yaralyan - bass
Markku Ounaskari - drums
This very special trio cooks with the best Nordic ingredients, the art of Afro-American cuisine and finest Oriental spices.
Chef Kari Ikonen and his team serve up a menu that combines his own creations with fresh interpretations of traditional Armenian dishes and classic recipes from cordons bleus like Coltrane or Shorter. Also delicious take-away available - the trio's debut album Bright, released in April 2013 by the respected German label Ozella, has been a success in tastings all over the world. German JAZZTHETIK and American Something Else Reviews chose Bright on their lists of the best jazz albums of 2013.
“Kari Ikonen lets his jazz chops shine, his groove glisten and his range within the music flourish with these two releases (Bright & The Helsinski Suite) (…) Throughout Bright, one gets the sense that freedom runs through three who know each others’ moves instinctively. The music is bright as in light, defying gravity in very musical ways.” -John Ephland, All About Jazz (USA)
“Ikonen has an original approach (…) his work here that suggests the Ozella label have discovered a pianist of considerable potential.” -Stuart Nicholson, JazzWise (UK) June 2013
"Inventive, spright and clever, Bright is not just a good Nordic jazz record, it’s world-class good." -Something Else Reviews (USA)
"The music is energetic and vibrant across all tempos (…) We enjoyed the set top to bottom." -O's Place Jazz Magazine (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
"Bright bietet alles, was ein gutes Jazzalbum benötigt. Gute Kompositionen, gut arrangiert und im Kari Ikonen Trio Musiker, die dies auf höchstem technischen Niveau in Musik umsetzten und den Hörer sofort gefangen nehmen. Große Kunst!" -Musik an sich (DE)
"The trio sounds like a jazz trio at its best." -Finnish Music Quarterly (FIN)
"Vitale Interaktion im Trio (…) elegant, wunderbar gelassen wandelbar" -Märklischer Allgemeine Zeitung (DE)
The 2013 Yrjö Award recipient as the Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year, pianist, keyboardist and composer Kari Ikonen (b.1973) is perhaps best known for his trio and for his international sextet Karikko, as well as for his writing for various ensembles, such as the UMO Jazz Orchestra. He has played with the likes of Bob Moses, Ingrid Jensen, Magnus Broo, Vincent Courtois and Ron McClure. His compositions have been honoured internationally, taking first prize in the Julius Hemphill Composition Awards (USA) and in the Italian Scrivere in Jazz. Tallinn-based Armenian bass virtuoso Ara Yaralyan (b.1973) has studied at Berklee and worked with Vardan Ovsepian, Brian Melvin, Kristjan Randalu and Karen Kocharyan. ECM recording artist, Markku Ounaskari (b.1967) is known for his work with Jarmo Savolainen, Piirpauke and Pekka Pohjola. Today he plays regularly with artists such as Per Jørgensen, Anders Jormin, Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Markus Stockhausen and Raoul Björkenheim.
Music, video, photos, reviews, news, tourdates & info: www.kariikonen.com
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