MOKA EFTI ORCHESTRA

BIO

Moka Efti Orchestra is an international sensation that first gained notoriety on the hit Netflix series “Babylon Berlin.” The 14 member ensemble were first cast as musicians for the series and are all renowned players. The group was pieced together by composer and show music supervisor Nikko Weidemann, & composer Mario Kamien , along with saxophonist/arranger Sebastian Borkowski. The series invites the viewer into the Moka Efti, a re-creation of the famous pre-World War II Berlin club, with the goal to bring back the music and the vibe of the 20´s. The Moka Efti was an entertainment palace during 1920s Berlin and is also a prominent set location for the TV series.

In the wake of the show’s international success and due to enthusiastic fan response, the Moka Efti Orchestra became an actual entity. The ensemble started to tour and perform their hits from the show’s soundtrack with vocalist, and series actor Severija Janusauskaitė aka SEVERIJA. Capitalizing on the momentum of their popularity, the Orchestra has now created a 13 song album featuring new versions of their popular songs plus new compositions. The album Erstausgabe is available now on Six Degrees Records. https://ffm.to/erstausgabe.

From the onset of the series, album composers and arrangers were tasked to focus on musically defining vivid contemporary emotions, rather than worrying about achieving 100% historical accuracy. A lofty task for the most ambitious TV series in German film history. Music industry veterans, Weidemann, has been rooted for decades in the international musical subculture and Kamien has made a name for himself as part of the 90s duo dZihan&Kamien. Borkowski is a successful sax and flute player in Berlin’s jazz scene. With guidance from the series directors, they took the band and its music to unimaginable new heights.

The band’s compositions and arrangements range from swing, blues, ragtime, Chanson, Big Band Charleston to Klezmer. The track “Zu Asche, Zu Staub” is a fan favorite standout. The song appears on the new album with an original arrangement featuring singer SEVERIJA. Another standout is “Snake – Together Alone,” showcasing Severija’s deep, smooth and silky voice, set over the orchestra’s bluesy, R&B influenced, powerful soundscape.

The ensemble had been touring throughout Europe and Germany up until COVID-19. Highlight performances have included Brandenburg Gate, German Unity day, Europe’s GQ Awards, sold out shows at the famous Ballhaus Berlin, Munich Philharmonie, and Kassel ́s opera house.

 

Moka Efti Orchestra:

Featured singers: Severija, Moritz Krämer, Roland Satterwhite, Mario Kamien, Nikko Weidemann, Sebastian Borkowski, Philipp Kacza

Violin: Roland Satterwhite, Daniel Weltlinger, Olga Holdorff

Viola: Sebastian Peszko

Tenor saxophone & flute: Sebastian Borkowski 

Trumpet: Florian Menzel, Philipp Kacza 

Trombone: Simon Harrer, Andrej Ugoljew 

Bass trombone: Friedrich Milz

Clarinet: Gregoire Peters

Baritone saxophone & bass flute: Andreas Dormann 

Baritone saxophone: Lars Zander

Banjo & Piano / Keyboards: Mario Kamien

Banjo: Igor Osypov

Piano & Mellotron: Nikko Weidemann

Drums, percussion, vibraphone, Timpani: Larry Mullins 

Drums: Tobias Backhaus

Double bass: Paul Kleber

Producers: Mario Kamien, Sebastian Borkowski, Nikko Weidemann

Latest Album
Share This