Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima delivered a performance of the Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo at the International Jazz Day concert on April 30, hosted by the Jazz Society of Egypt. Djaima described her approach to jazz as a fusion genre, blending traditional music, including Bulgarian and Romani influences, with modern styles. She stated, “My jazz is a fusion with traditional music…
I always like to do something different, to enrich or leave my own musical imprint on something that already exists.”
Performing Gankino Horo, a piece noted for its complex rhythm, was a long-held ambition for the artist. She reflected on her father’s advice, recalling that he had encouraged her to study Bulgarian music to achieve international recognition. Djaima noted that performing the piece later provided a sense of validation regarding her father’s counsel.
For the performance, Djaima collaborated with Amro Salah, founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt and Cairo Jazz Festival, who has ties to Bulgaria, alongside Andre Segone on bass and Fady Tawab Louis on drums. The Egyptian musicians found the collaboration both enjoyable and inspiring. The audience at Arkan Teatre in Cairo responded to Djaima’s rendition of Gankino Horo with enthusiastic applause.
Djaima explained that her performance style requires focusing on openness to react to the moment, balancing the improvisation inherent in jazz with the precise elements of the challenging 11/8 rhythm. After graduating from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, Djaima lived in Paris for nearly three decades before moving to Cairo during the pandemic to teach music. She is currently involved in the trio Sacree Femmes, collaborating with American cellist Kira Weiss and Egyptian musician Safa El-Helaly.
Topics: #jazz #bulgarian #djaima
