Pianist Kari Ikonen (b. 1973) started his classical piano lessons when he was 5 years-old but thanks to the record collection of his big brother who played the drums, he got interested in fusionjazz in his teens. In the music school of Jyväskylä the piano lessons given by Matti Laukkanen interested Ikonen more than school and after high school he did his non-military service at the music school as well.

In 1994 Ikonen moved to Helsinki to study at the jazz department of Sibelius Academy and the spring semester 1996 Ikonen spent studying as a exchange student at the Conservatory of Rotterdam. In Sibelius Academy pianist was soon a member of many groups and the most long-lasting bands for Ikonen, Mr. Fonebone and Quartet Coyote, were born in the mid-1990s as well.

Besides these groups Ikonen has influenced as a founder member in Karikko-band and Kari Ikonen Trio. As a sideman he has played in i.a. Gnomus, Mia Simanainen Ahava, Slo Motive and Markus Holkko Quartet. In addition, he has composed lots of works for Jyväskylä Big Band, UMO and of course for his own groups. Besides performing and composing Ikonen works as a teacher in Sibelius Academy.