The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble (TKDE) formed in 2000 as a project to compose new music for existing silent movies. Jason Köhnen and Gideon Kiers, both graduates of the Utrecht School of Arts, combined their audio and visual skills to reinterpret classic movies by F.W. Murnau (Nosferatu) and F. Langs (Metropolis).
In 2004 UK trombonist Hilary Jeffery and Swiss cellist Nina Hitz joined TKDE to record the self-titled debut album which was released on Planet Mu Records in May 2006. The ensuing tour saw Eelco Bosman and Paris based vocalist Charlotte Cegarra join, forming the Ensemble into a sextet. London based violinist Sadie Anderson joined in 2008 to supply the group with extra power on stage.
The Netherlands has been TKDE’s homebase since 2007, while members have moved closer to each other to make composing and producing easier.

Apart from the mothership which is TKDE, there is another entity; The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation is a live improv jazz/drone/doom sideproject consisting of TKDE members and a host of interchanging guest musicians.

Due to the vast possibilities within the band, the sound spectrum of TKDE is hard to capture within one specific composition. Moreover, the project will lean towards various styles depending on the respective members working together at a given time. A good mix between atmosphere and technique is always the strong basis for a TKDE composition.

Live TKDE fuse analog and digital as much as possible. Combining traditional instrumentations (comprising cello, trombone, violin, beats, guitar, bass and vocals) with existing and/or self-developed software, continuously blending and mutating, creating an organic and electronic performance, supported by visuals which add to and interact with the frequencies of said instruments.

Gideon Kiers : Beats / FX: Known for his abstract audiovisual work with Telcosystems . Worked with Jochem Paap (Speedy J), on the development of the 5.1 surround sound 'Umfeld' project. Runs the bi-annual Sonic Acts Festival in Paradiso Amsterdam.

Jason Köhnen : Double Bass / Fretless : Better known as hardcore electronics artist Bong-Ra. Recorded a session for John Peel in 2001. Released on labels such as Planet Mu, Cock Rock Disco and Sublight, remixed Venetian Snares ‘Rossz’ album and has played on nearly all the bigger festivals including Glastonbury 2007.

Hilary Jeffery : Trombone / Oscillator : Popular free-jazz/improv trombonist , performs regulary with Jimi Tenor, Patrick Pulsinger and Nick Bullen’s Black Galaxy. Released various albums with the post punk band Sand and solo.

Charlotte Cegarra : Vocal FX /Various instruments : French vocalist from a very musical background. Multi-instrumentalist, playing xylophone, flute, piano and rhodes. Graduated from the Paris College of Music, specializes in electronics.

Eelco Bosman : Guitar : Graduate of the Utrecht School of Arts, majoring in Sound Technology. Dutch guitarist, part of the Utrecht guitar-drone music scene in Utrecht. Currently working on 78 RPM, a heavy droning project.

Sadie Anderson : Violin : Violinist and multi-instrumentalist for Chrome Hoof, Kobayashi Ensemble, Blue Roses and many other projects.

Nina Hitz : Cello : Conservatory of Zurich cello graduate specialized in Barok music. Performs with various theater groups : Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, The Barton Workshop. Specializing in improv, film music and theater.