Kari Ikonen SILTA

photo by Maarit Kytöharju

Kari Ikonen – piano (w. Maqiano Microtuning System)
Kheir-eddine M’Kachiche – violin
Anders Jormin – double bass*
Markku Ounaskari – drums

*Also available as trio, without the bass.

Silta is Finnish for bridge. Qantara in Arabic, this bridge connects and blends two different music cultures – Arabic and Nordic. The band is on that long and high bridge, in no man’s land, free to create their very own music, taking inspiration from both ends of the bridge – and from the universe around. The result is a unique combination of elegant harmonies, microtonal maqamat, improvisation, delightful rhythms and abundance of sounds & colours.

New album coming later this year on Ozella Music! Listen to the excerpts ad-free here !!

And see some recent live videos as trio here !!

Photo by Wolfgang Gonaus

“Todella tasokas kansainvälinen bändi (…) yhteissointi oli mykistävän jylhä ja syvä.” -Soundi

“Ikonen yhdistää luovasti, nerokkaasti ja orgaanisesti kaksi erilaista musiikkikulttuuria.” –Helsingin Sanomat

“Kari Ikonen viritti Logomoon kertakaikkisen elämyksen – Tätä on vaikea tänä vuonna ylittää” –Turun Sanomat

“Koko kvartetti puhalsi hienosti yhteen hiileen, ja vaikutteet eri suunnista sulautuivat virkistävän omaperäiseksi kokonaisuudeksi.” –Kaleva

The pianist-moogist-composer Kari Ikonen is currently active as solo pianist, with bands like Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, Wishamalii or Quartet Ajaton and different projects with Louis Sclavis, Fabrizio Cassol and Claudio Puntin. Ikonen has won several international awards for his compositions, and in 2013 he received the Yrjö Award as the Finnish Jazz Musician of the Year.

Born in Algiers, violinist Kheireddine M’Kachiche began his musical journey 40 years ago. A true master in Arab-Andalusian, Algerian and North African music, and all kinds of traditional and contemporary world music and jazz, he has collaborated with many great artists such as Aka Moon, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Jon Balke, Jon Hassell, Enrico Rava, Dhafer Youssef and Nguyên Lê.
 
Swedish maestro Anders Jormin is surely one of the most significant double bass players ever. During his long career, his souvereign bass art has been heard with Bobo Stenson, Charles Lloyd, Tomasz Stanko, Elvin Jones, Don Cherry, Kenny Wheeler and many others.
 
Collaborating with Kari Ikonen since 1995, drummer Markku Ounaskari is known for his work with Jarmo Savolainen and Pekka Pohjola. Today he plays regularly with artists such as Kristjan Randalu, Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim and Raoul Björkenheim. Markku got the prestigious Yrjö award in 2014.
Photo by Timo Lind