Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima recently delivered a performance at the Jazz Society of Egypt’s traditional concert marking International Jazz Day on April 30. During the event, Djaima presented a captivating rendition of the Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo. Djaima described her artistic approach, stating that her jazz style is an eclectic fusion that incorporates traditional influences, whether Bulgarian or Romani.
She expressed a desire to constantly evolve her work, aiming to enrich existing musical forms. Reflecting on the challenging piece, she shared that the performance brought back memories of her father’s advice: that to achieve global recognition, she should master Bulgarian music—a lesson she finally understood years later upon stepping onto the stage. For the concert, Djaima performed alongside Amro Salah, founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt, who is a pianist and composer with deep ties to Bulgaria, alongside Andre Segone on bass guitar and Fady Tawab Louis on drums.
The collaboration was noted as inspiring for the musicians. The audience responded enthusiastically to the Gankino Horo, which Djaima explained required balancing mathematical precision—due to its complex 11/8 rhythm—with spontaneous improvisation inherent in jazz. Originally trained in Sofia, Djaima relocated to Cairo during the pandemic to teach music.
Her professional career includes nearly three decades in Paris. Currently, she is involved in 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
Djaima’s performance of Gankino Horo sounds captivating and must have been a wonderful way to celebrate International Jazz Day.
How did Djaima blend the traditional Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo with the modern genre of jazz?