Bulgarian violinist, singer, and actress Emanuela Kalcheva-Djaima presented a performance of the Bulgarian folk dance Gankino Horo during the International Jazz Day concert on April 30, organized by the Jazz Society of Egypt. Djaima described her approach to music, stating that her style of jazz is a fusion incorporating traditional influences, including Bulgarian and Romani elements. She expressed a desire to continually innovate and add her unique musical perspective to existing forms.
The artist shared that performing Gankino Horo, known for its complex rhythm, was a long-held ambition. She reflected on the piece while recalling advice from her father, who had encouraged her to learn Bulgarian music for international recognition. Performing the piece years later, Djaima felt a sense of validation regarding her father’s counsel.
On stage, Djaima performed with Amro Salah, founder of the Jazz Society of Egypt and the Cairo Jazz Festival, who has ties to Bulgarian culture, alongside Andre Segone on bass guitar and Fady Tawab Louis on drums. The collaboration was described as both engaging and enjoyable for the Egyptian musicians. The audience at Arkan Teatre in Cairo responded enthusiastically to the Gankino Horo with applause.
Djaima explained that her focus during performance is on openness, allowing her to react to the music in the moment. She noted that her performance balanced rigorous structure—particularly due to the challenging 11/8 rhythm—with improvisation, a hallmark of jazz. 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.
Her current project involves the trio Sacree Femmes, collaborating with cellist Kira Weiss and Egyptian musician Safa El-Helaly, who plays the rababa.
Topics: #jazz #bulgarian #djaima
