The band , named after a German phrase literally translated as "the art of discerning frontiers", was formed by St.Petersburg geology students in October, 1992. Their first concert saw the sax player Sergey Yegorov take his place on drums, where he has stayed ever since. The other founders are brothers Sergey Yefremenko (guitar, vocals) an Kirill Oskin (bass). They started out with hard rockabilly-cum-R'n'B, turned to the blues and later to Latino, Jamaican and other ethnic influences. Vladimir Matushkin (guitar) joins in 1995, while concert line-up boasted Pavel Litvinov (legendary Russian alternative band Auktsyon) and St.Petersburg foremost Afrocuban percussionist Kirill Ipatov on assorted percussion and Dmitri "Piglet" Khramtsov on harmonica, among others.

Their debut album "Kem Byt?" ("What Should I Be") was recorded -not to be released until several years later. Meanwhile, Serafim Selenge Makangila, originally from Zaire and also of Geology Institute fame, initiates Motema Pembe project- a collaboration with Markscheider Kunst. The group also forms the band "Straight Jacking" with Yugoslav rapper Yugo Petrovich. Having recorded an album, which gained success in Yugoslavia, they disbanded in 1996 after Petrovich left Russia. However, Motema Pembe songs begin to merge organically with MK's own repertoire which culminates in Makangila entering the band's ranks. Their gig at 1997 Bob Marley Moscow Memorial Festival gives start to numerous club engagements in Moscow. A new album including "Money", a Russian style neoRasta anthem with heavy reggae feeling and a heavy-rotation MTV video hit, is released as well as live EP recorded in Helsinki's leading Latin club Kerma in 1998. In spring of 2000 the band is augmented with the brass section including ex-members of St.Petersburg skapop band "2va samoleta" and the improvisational "'Zga".

Collaborations
On top of the collaborations mentioned above, MK has also recorded with other prominent Russian musicians, such as Tequilajazzz leader Yevgeni Fyodorov, Moscow punk band "Tarakany" and currently with rock-guru Boris Grebenshchikov - responsible for introducing reggae and Caribbean music to Russian audiences - who calls them the only Russian band that plays truly upbeat and positive music. Two singles are in the pipeline.

The music :
Markscheider Kunst are a prime example of a truly multicultural band. Frontman Serafim Selenge Makangila hails from Zaire. He studied there to be a priest, then got expelled after a love affair, left for Ukraine in 1990 and found himself in St. Petersburg five years later. He is an authentic performer of Congolese soukous. His lyrics are in French, Swahili and Lingala. The band itself is also multinational: an Udmurt, a Jew, a Tartar, a Russian…. The same goes for the music, which traces its roots among ska, reggae, funk, jazz and Latin rock flavoured with African influences and sprinkled with Russian folklore.

Markscheider Kunst are one of the most prominent club acts in St.Petersburg and Moscow, hundreds attend their numerous gigs. However, they do not confine themselves and their hyperenergetic positive music to home audience only and have been playing abroad for quite a time. First they visited Germany as "club exchange band", in 1995, and now they play there regularly, both in clubs and at festivals and open airs. Besides, they perform, since 1997, in Finland 3 to 4 times a year to adoring capacity crowds - be it small venues or festivals. Switzerland heard them, too, and Netherlands are next on the list. Currently MK are one of the better known Russian world music artists in Europe.

Selected performances :
Markscheider Kunst have performed on festivals featuring such artists as Busi Mholongo, Sally Nyolo, Klimax, Gjallahorn, The Skatalites, Flaco Jimenez and as support band to The Skatalites. They recently performed in a joint concert with Manu Chao in Moscow.

LINE-UP :
Sergey "Yefr" Yefremenko (vocals, guitar, compositions and lyrics (in Russian)); Serafim Selenge Makangila (vocals, compositions and lyrics (in French, Lingala, Suahili))
Sergey "Yegor" Yegorov (drums, back, and occasional other vocals); Kirill Oskin (back vocals, bass); Vladimir Matushkin "DJ Nguba" (back vocals, guitar); Alexei Kanev (saxophone, occasional back vocals, choreography); Vadim Yagman (trumpet, occasional back vocals, choreography); Ramil Shamsutdinov (trombone, occasional back vocals, choreography. Abstract solos)

Discography :
"Kem byt'" cassette album, recorded in 1992-994, released in 1998, selfrelease
"Moskva-Kinshasha transit" EP and multimedia CD, released in 1999, selfrelease
"Live in Helsinki", live EP released in 1999, selfrelease
"Tanec", CD single with video, released summer 2001, Gala Records, Moscow
"Krasivosleva", full album, released November 2001, Gala Records, Moscow

Contact :
Label Gala Records (SBA Production)
Moscow
Tel. +7-095-2670358
E mail : skuznetsov@galarec.ru

Publishing company :
SBA Music Publishing, Moscow see contact above
Website : www.wadada.net/kunst