Pianist Seppo Kantonen (b. 1963) has played during his marvelous career in so many bands and orchestras that it is impossible to squeeze everything he has done into a short biography. A good example of the significance of Kantonen to Finnish jazz is the Georgie (Yrjö) Award he received already in 1985: just a few years after the young pianist had set a foot on the field of jazz.

During the years Kantonen has worked with UMO Jazz Orchestra, saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen, drummer Jukkis Uotila and many other bands of his fellow students in Sibelius Academy. On the field of rock music Kantonen has performed with i.a. J. Karjalainen and drummer Remu Aaltonen. Kantonen's has also been establishing many successful jazz bands such as Klang Trio, formed with drummer Markku Ounaskari and bassist Ulf Krokfors in 1997, and Tokka Quartet, founded in the beginning of the 21st century with trumpetist Verneri Pohjola, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Mika Kallio. The list of Kantonen's co-musicians goes on and on.

In recent years Kantonen's skills have been also used by many band leaders from the younger jazz generation, such as Mikko Innanen in his Innkvisitio Quartet. Wit UMO Kantonen also keeps performing regularly.