The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble is a Dutch band formed in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1999. The group is composed of Jason Köhnen, Gideon Kiers, trombonist Hilary Jeffery, cellist Nina Hitz, singer Charlotte Cegarra, guitarist Eelco Bosman, and violinist Sadie Anderson. Its live counterpart is The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation.
History
Köhnen and Kiers initially formed the group, often abbreviated as TKDE, in 1999 as a project for scoring silent movies such as Nosferatu and Metropolis. Köhnen and Kiers knew each other from studying at the Utrecht School of Arts. The hitherto electronic project was altered in 2004 when British trombonist Jeffery and Swiss cellist Hitz joined. As a quartet, the group released their debut album. Since then, the group has added Cegarra and Bosman in 2006, and Anderson in 2008. The group formed The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation in 2007 as an improvisational side project. The group released their crowd-funded From the Stairwell in 2011. In late 2013, the group disbanded. Jason Köhnen confirmed this on his new project's Facebook page.On January 22, 2025 via his email newsletter Jason Köhnen announced that both The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble and The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation are back: "After a hiatus of 12 years... I can proudly say that TKDE are back together again... Stay tuned for upcoming news!"
On February 12, 2025 it was officially announced that The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble and The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation will perform once again in their original line-up on August 29 2025 at Lido in Berlin, Germany.
On January 4, 2026 TKDE officially announced 10 new live shows for 2026 - and that "new music is slowly in the make and we hope to release something next year."
Members
Current lineup
- Jason Köhnen – programming, production, bass, double bass, guitar, synthesizers, piano
- Gideon Kiers – programming, electronics, sequencing, beats, FX, production, drums
- Hilary Jeffery – trombone, oscillator
- Charlotte Cegarra – vocals, flute, xylophone, piano, Rhodes piano, FX
- Eelco Bosman – guitar, FX
Former members
- Nina Hitz – cello
- Sarah "Sadie" Anderson – violin
Live members
- Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson – trumpet
- Ron Goris – sound engineer
Session musicians
- Godfried Satan – vocals
- Coen Kaldeway – saxophone, bass clarinet
Discography
;Studio albums- 2006 – The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble
- 2009 – Here Be Dragons
- 2011 – From the Stairwell
;EP
- 2009 – Mutations
- 2009 – Adaptation of Saint Vitus 'Patra'
- 2009 – Palace of the Tiger Women
- 2009 – Bird's Lament - Tribute to Moondog
- 2009 – Two Live Tracks
- 2010 – Dark Night of the Soul
- 2012 – Xtabay
- 2016 – Virgin Lava