The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Here Be Dragons

Here Be Dragons. Once that was the name for unexplored territories located on faraway uncharted parts of the medieval maps. This phrase in Latin form "Hic Sunt Dracones" meant the unknown in a way to warn people of possible danger or hazard. Nowadays this definition is used metaphorically for crossing bounderies to enter undiscovered areas of culture or life. It perfectly suits to creativeness of the Dutch avant-garde jazz outfit The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble and their music which is a mix of modern jazz, ambient and electronic post-rock. The band was founded in a year 2000 by Jason Kohnen and Gideon Kiers as a project to compose soundtracks for the ancient silent movies directed by Murnau and Lang but soon it has grown into the proper jazz combo with line-up counting six or seven members, recording and releasing albums, as like extensively touring all over Europe. Since 2006 the band released four studio albums, their debut self-titled "The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble" (Planet Mu - ZIQ141CD), followed in 2009 by "Here Be Dragons" (Ad Noiseam - adn120), and in 2011 by "From The Stairwell" (Denovali Records DEN86) and "I Forsee The Dark Ahead, If I Stay" (Parallel Corners). Needless to say that my favourite one is exactly "Here Be Dragons".  The personell resposible for this record : Jason Kohnen  (double bass, piano), Gideon Kiers (electronics, drums), Charlotte Cegarra (vocals, piano, xylophone), Hilary Jeffery (trombone), Nina Hitz (cello), Eelco Bosman (guitar), Sarah Anderson (violin). They've done a great job, this album's got unique sound, dense albeit atmospheric, with crystal clear vocals of Charlotte Cegarra and hounting string parades, truely a musical trip into some magic uncharted places.