Selma Reis was born August 24, 1960. She was a Brazilian actress and singer. Selma Reis was raised in São Gonçalo, a small city near Niterói in Rio de Janeiro. Her passion for music began at a young age when her family would regularly go to “rodas seresteiras” and spend the night singing. Selma got more and more involved with the fascinating world of voices through her active participation in the “rodas seresteiras”.
It wasn’t until after university, and Reis took a three year trip outside of Brazil, that her life changed dramatically. She went to live in Nantes, France where she took music courses and studied literature for two years. Whenever she had the opportunity, she went to Paris to attend seminars on vocal technique.
In 1987 she recorded “Selma Reis”, her first independent disc. What was once a dream to Reis had now become reality. Her new work was a success. In 1990 she released another self-titled independent disk and in 1991 the CD, “Só dói quando eu Rio”.
A 1993 a third self titled, “Selma Reis” CD was recorded in London with arrangements by Grahaam Presket, who worked with Paul McCartney and Elton John. This was a landmark in her career. Soon after, in 1995, she did “Todo Sentimento”, another success. In the year 1998 came the CD, “Achados e Perdidos” where she sang songs of Gonzaguinha.
The album Ares de Havana (The Air Of Havana) contains new readings of standards from the 1940s and upwards, from some of the greatest Caribbean composers. From Ignacio Villa, known as Bola de Nieve – deceased in 1962, leaving an important heritage to the universal song – there is “Ay Amor”. Velas Records produced and released Are de Havana.
The album also featured Beny Moré’s “Dolor y Perdon” and “My Amor Fugaz”. Other songs included: “Drume Negrita” (recorded by Caetano Veloso as well as “Ay Amor”)by Ernesto Grenet; the rumba “Babalu” from Margarida Lecuona, composer Ernesto Lecuona’s sister.
This nostalgia gave room to four more songs: “Para Vivir” (from Pablo Milanés) and “Oh, Melancolia” (from Silvio Rodriguez) are from composers of the New Cuban Ballad’s movement (Nova Trova Cubana. “Espuma y Arena”, from Pedro Luís Ferrer, and “Sembrando Para Ti” are among the others.
Ares de Havana was recorded in EGREM’s studio, in Havana, in only one week although Selma spent one month in Cuba preparing for the project. Within the thirty days that she was in Cuba, Selma learned Spanish, studied the song’s words, met with the other musicians, recorded the vocals, had the pictures for the cover taken by Angel Alderete and recorded the videoclip for “Ay amor,” at Havana’s tourist spots.
Selma herself said: “I was very impressed by the quality of the artistic compositions in Cuba. I confess that it was a shock for me, for I only knew of Bola de Nieve, Pablo Milanés and something from Silvio Rodriguez. Today I know that Cuban music is as superior to the Brazilian in terms of harmony and creativity, just loosing in diversity of rhythm, where ours is unbeatable“.
Selma Reis died December 19, 2015
Discography:
Selma Reis (Philips 1990)
Só Dói Quando Eu Rio (Philips 1991)
Selma Reis (Philips, 1993)
Todo Sentimento (Warner Music Brasil, 1995)
Canta Gonzaga Jr. (Velas, 1996
Ares de Havana – The Air Of Havana (Velas Records VLS 2002-2 2000)
Todo Sentimento (Albatroz, 2004)
Sagrado (Deckdisc, 2007)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
