The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble

electronic | ambient | darkjazz | drone | trip hop

Emerging from the shadows between sound and cinema, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble (TKDE) crafts music that feels like a forgotten dream—one suspended between the surreal and the sublime. Founded in 2000 by Jason Köhnen and Gideon Kiers, the project began as a live reimagining of soundtracks for silent film classics such as Metropolis and Nosferatu. What followed was the birth of an ensemble that redefined atmosphere itself. Over time, TKDE expanded to include Hilary Jeffery (trombone, effects), Charlotte Cegarra (vocals) and Eelco Bosman (guitar). Their collective improvisation and cinematic aesthetic created a distinct sonic identity — one that bridges ambient, doom, jazz, post-rock and experimental electronica into an otherworldly form of auditory storytelling. The group’s live performances are renowned for their hypnotic visual and sonic experience, often accompanied by abstract film projections that mirror the ensemble’s spectral mood. Their influence continues to resonate through modern dark jazz and experimental electronic circles, marking TKDE as one of the genre’s most innovative and enduring collectives.