Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima presented a rendition of the Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo at the International Jazz Day concert on April 30, organized by the Jazz Society of Egypt. Djaima described her approach to music, stating, “Jazz is an eclectic genre with many different currents. My jazz is a fusion with traditional music, whether Bulgarian or Romani.
I always like to do something different, to enrich or leave my own musical imprint on something that already exists.”
She shared that performing Gankino Horo, due to its complex rhythm, was a long-held ambition. Reflecting on the performance, Djaima recalled her father’s advice from her childhood: to learn Bulgarian music if she wished to gain global recognition. “Back then, I didn’t agree with him.
But when I performed this piece, when I stepped onto the stage so many years later, I told myself: my father was right, I just needed more maturity to understand it.”
On the night, Djaima performed with Amro Salah, a pianist and composer with strong ties to Bulgaria, who is the founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt and the Cairo Jazz Festival. Andre Segone provided bass guitar, and Fady Tawab Louis played drums. The collaboration was noted by the artist as both inspiring and enjoyable for the Egyptian musicians.
The audience at Arkan Teatre in Cairo responded with significant applause to the Gankino Horo. Djaima elaborated on the performance dynamic, explaining that while jazz involves improvisation, it also requires precise elements. “The performance was a blend of mathematical precision, because 11/8 is a very difficult rhythm, and improvisation,” she explained.
A graduate of the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, Djaima moved to Cairo from Paris during the pandemic to teach music. She is currently involved in the trio Sacree Femmes, featuring American cellist Kira Weiss and Egyptian musician Safa El-Helaly, who plays the rababa.
Topics: #jazz #bulgarian #djaima
This sounds like a beautiful fusion of cultures!