This bachelor’s project examines how non-Scandinavian folk music—specifically Bulgarian choral traditions and Greek rebetika—can inspire original jazz compositions. The objective was not to imitate these folk styles but to let their unique musical elements influence the composer’s artistic voice within a jazz framework. This work involved extensive aural research and immersive listening, focusing on emotional and intuitive understanding rather than analytical transcription. Compositions were developed through improvisation and experimentation at the piano, with influences from folk ornamentation, asymmetrical meters, and vocal phrasing shaping the melodic and rhythmic structures. The final pieces were performed in concert by a traditional jazz quartet. This process illustrated how exposure to diverse musical traditions can enrich jazz composition, providing new rhythmic, melodic, and expressive tools while preserving artistic integrity.