Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima performed the Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo at a traditional concert marking International Jazz Day on April 30, organized by the Jazz Society of Egypt. Djaima described her approach to the genre, stating, “My jazz is a fusion with traditional music, whether Bulgarian or Romani.” She expressed a desire to enrich established musical forms through her own unique interpretations. The artist shared that performing Gankino Horo, noted for its complex rhythm, brought back memories of her father’s advice to master Bulgarian music.
While she initially disagreed with the suggestion, performing the piece years later confirmed its value to her artistic development. On stage, Djaima collaborated with Amro Salah, founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt and the Cairo Jazz Festival, Andre Segone on bass guitar, and Fady Tawab Louis on drums. She noted the collaboration was mutually inspiring.
The performance garnered significant applause from the audience at Arkan Teatre in Cairo. Djaima explained that the piece required a balance between improvisation—a core element of jazz—and mathematical precision, particularly due to the 11/8 time signature. Kalcheva-Djaima, who previously trained at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, relocated to Cairo during the pandemic to teach music.
Her current project involves the trio Sacree Femmes, where she partners with American cellist Kira Weiss and Egyptian musician Safa El-Helaly, who plays the rababa.
Topics: #jazz #bulgarian #djaima
