Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima performed at the International Jazz Day concert on April 30, an event organized by the Jazz Society of Egypt. Djaima presented an interpretation of the traditional Bulgarian folk dance, Gankino Horo. Speaking about her musical approach, Djaima stated that her style of jazz is a fusion that incorporates traditional elements, whether Bulgarian or Romani.
She expressed a commitment to artistic exploration, aiming to enrich existing musical forms. Reflecting on the piece, she noted that Gankino Horo presents a considerable rhythmic challenge. She shared a personal anecdote about her father’s advice to study Bulgarian music, a guidance she later realized was profoundly accurate upon performing the piece years later.
During the concert, Djaima performed with a lineup including Amro Salah, the founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt and the Cairo Jazz Festival, Andre Segone on bass guitar, and Fady Tawab Louis on drums. The collaboration was described as inspiring for the Egyptian musicians. The performance was met with strong applause from the audience.
Djaima elaborated on the technical aspects of the music, explaining that the performance required a balance between mathematical precision—due to the complex 11/8 rhythm—and improvisation. Background details confirm that Djaima, who studied at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, relocated to Cairo during the pandemic to teach music. Her current work includes the trio Sacree Femmes, where she collaborates with American cellist Kira Weiss and Egyptian musician Safa El-Helaly, who plays the traditional rababa.
Topics: #jazz #bulgarian #djaima
It must have been fascinating to hear traditional Bulgarian music performed in a jazz context.