Seppo Kantonen

Seppo Kantonen, who has been a full-time professional musician since 1982, has participated in hundreds of recordings throughout his career, covering virtually all music genres from jazz to popular music and classical. He has performed in concerts around the world and works as a highly sought-after freelancer.

Current projects that employ Kantonen include Kahden Miehen Galaksi, Kantonen Camping, the Seppo Kantonen Quintet, WU5, the Seppo Kantonen Trio, the duo Anni Elif & Seppo Kantonen, as well as Ufo Mustonen & Bandi, which will also perform at the Ylläs Jazz Blues 2026 festival. He has collaborated with jazz greats such as Eero Koivistoinen, Pekka Pohjola, Mikko Innanen, UMO, Adele Sauroksen, and Juhani Aaltonen. Kantonen has held soloist positions with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra, the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, the Lappeenranta City Orchestra, Avant, and the Kymi Sinfonietta.

In addition to his soloist and musician roles, Kantonen has increasingly worked as a composer and arranger in recent years, creating compositions and arrangements for the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Avant, UMO, and several smaller ensembles. He composed the commissioned work “Bias” for the Tampere Jazz Happening in 2022.

Among his extensive list of achievements are the Yrjö Award from the Jazz Federation in 1985, the Young Art Finland Award, and several one- to five-year grants (SKR and the State Arts Council of Finland).

Additionally, Kantonen also serves as a part-time lecturer at the Sibelius Academy.

At the Ylläs Jazz Blues 2026 festival, we have the joy and honor of welcoming Seppo Kantonen to perform as well. An intimate and captivating solo piano concert will be held at Pyhän Laurin Chapel on Saturday, January 24, at 5:00 PM.