Caros Amigos,
Como a grande maioria de vós sabe, o Hot Clube de Portugal viu-se obrigado a interromper a programação de concertos, devido a um incêndio que deflagrou na cobertura do edifício da Pr. da Alegria, na madrugada do dia 22 de Dezembro de 2009.
A solução para o realojamento do Clube está a ser estudada em conjunto com a C.M.Lisboa e mesmo que o espaço “ideal” seja definido nos próximos dias, o reactivar da programação regular não está para breve.
Todos os músicos com quem tínhamos datas agendadas foram avisados sobre o acontecido e todos sem excepção, escreveram-nos manifestando grande tristeza e disponibilizando-se para ajudar da forma que considerássemos mais útil. Por essa solidariedade e em nome do Hot Clube de Portugal, aproveito mais uma vez para agradecer.
Apesar de o sucedido ser razão mais do que legitima para o cancelamento dos concertos agendados, algumas situações daí resultantes obrigam-nos a tentar, na medida do possível, minimizar o prejuízo causado aos músicos. Músicos estrangeiros com viagens aéreas já adquiridas à data do incidente, solicitaram-nos compreensão e esforço para que estas viagens não ficassem completamente perdidas.
O Kari Ikonen Quartet, grupo nesta situação, reúne dois músicos finlandeses e dois suecos e estará em Lisboa, como estava previsto, nos próximos dias 4 , 5 e 6 de Fevereiro.
Graças à extraordinária colaboração e disponibilidade por parte dos responsáveis do Maxime, da Fábrica Braço de Prata e do OndaJazz, este grupo apresentar-se-á nestes locais, respectivamente a 4, 5 e 6 de Fevereiro (Quinta, Sexta e Sábado).
O concerto de dia 4 (Quinta-feira) será a primeira oportunidade que todos nós, habituais frequentadores do Hot Clube, teremos para voltar à Praça da Alegria. Para os que não puderem estar nessa noite de reencontro, sugiro-vos as outras duas oportunidades.
O Kari Ikonen Quartet que pratica jazz de qualidade, será um excelente pretexto para que muitos de nós se voltem a encontrar. Não será no mesmo “velho” Hot Club, mas afinal nós as pessoas, somos o mais importante.  Apareçam !!!
O Hot Clube de Portugal reafirma o seu sentido agradecimento ao Maxime, à Fábrica Braço de Prata e ao OndaJazz,  três locais, também símbolos culturais desta cidade, pela preciosa colaboração e disponibilidade para ajudar, que desde o início manifestaram e também pelo empenho que têm demonstrado na divulgação da música jazz...e não só.
Lisboa, 20 de Janeiro de 2010

"This Scandinavian Quartet plays modern swinging jazz with some Nordic influences. The music, jazz classics and original compositions, is strong in energy, tradition, communication and creativity". 

Kari Ikonen (b.1973) has a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius-Academy Jazz Department. He has also studied at the Jyväskylä Music Institute and the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland. In addition to his own ensemble Karikko he plays the piano and/or other keyboards in groups Ahava, Gnomus, Mr Fonebone, Markus Holkko Quartet and SLO Motive, performing frequently in Finland and abroad. He has performed with many internationally known musicians, such as Ingrid Jensen, Stan Sultzman, Ron McClure, Vincent Courtois, Magnus Broo, Dayna Stephens and Jukkis Uotila. Ikonen has performed in the USA, Russia and 15 European countries. Ikonen’s playing and/or compositions can be heard on more than 20 records.
Ikonen has composed a lot of music for different small groups and larger ensembles, e.g. UMO Jazz Orchestra and The Norwegian Radio Orchestra. In 2000 he won the first prize at the International Julius Hemphill Composition Awards (Jazz Composers Alliance, USA). His debut-cd ”Karikko”, consisting of his compositions for different ensembles, was chosen as the best Finnish jazz-cd of 2001 by the ”Jazz-Emma” prize (Finland’s Grammy) and in 2002 he won the first prize in the ”Scrivere in Jazz” big band composition contest in Italy. Ikonen works as a part-time teacher at the jazz departments of the Sibelius-Academy and at the Estonian Music Academy in Tallinn.

Fredrik Carlquist was born in Jonkoping Sweden in 1969. He started to play the clarinet at the age of nine and the saxophone one year later. In 1989 Fredrik left Jonkoping to study music at Skurup School of Music and in 1992 he began studies at Malmö Conservatory of Music from where he received a Bachelor Of Fine Arts In Music in 1996.  Fredrik worked on the Swedish jazz-scene with among others, Anders Bergkrantz, Monday Night Big Band and with the late Swedish drum legend Stubben Kallin with who Fredrik got to play with such greats as trumpetist Benny Bailey and singer Monica Zetterlund. In 1997 he received the "Jazz In Sweden Award" together with Jacob Karlzon Trio and saxophonist Henrik Frisk and together they released the album "Blue Pages". During this time Fredrik also released two CDs under his own name on the Swedish label Dragon Records, "It's About Time It's About Love" (1999) and "Opposite" (2001). His quintet performed in Sweden and Denmark but also at the World Expo in Hannover and at the Euro-Jazz Festival in Mexico. Fredrik also worked as a saxplayer and arranger at the Swedish Television and he taught saxophone at Skurup School Of Music and Sundsgardens Folhogskola.

Marko Lohikari was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1979. He has studied double bass and improvisation at the University of Gothenburg, with Swedish bassist and composer, Professor Anders Jormin. After his studies in Sweden, he attended the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. He has performed with the best musicians in the Finnish jazz scene, such as Jussi Kannaste, Jussi Lehtonen, Timo Lassy among others. He has performed with different groups all over Europe, like France, Holland, Estonia, Slovenia, Norway to name a few. Right now he is residing in Barcelona where he has played with a lot of the new innovative musicians of the local scene.

Although a citizen of Finland, André Sumelius has spent a considerable amount of time (from 1988 to 1997, to be exact) in the USA. Whilst there, he lived in San Francisco and took lessons from drummer legend Tony Williams. In 1999 the drummer founded the group André Sumelius Lift in cahoots with vibraphonist Severi Pyysalo, saxophonist Kari Heinilä, trumpeter Arve Henriksen, guitarist Teemu Viinikainen, and bass player Lasse Lindgren. The team, although with the minor switch of Lindgren to Ulf Krokfors, consequently recorded their debut album 'Kaira'. Released to critical acclaim, this courageous disc went on to win the 2002 Jazz-Emma. Since the release of 'Kaira', André Sumelius has shuttled back and forth in between the United States and Finland. After moving to Barcelona in 2007 Sumelius has worked with e.g. Albert Sanz and Perico Sambeat.