English Biography
Born in São Paulo in 1971, Mônica Salmaso
has surfaced as one of the best young voices among the new talents of
Brasil.
She started her musical career singing in a "comedy" directed
by the award winning Gabriel Villela.
Besides her music studies in São Paulo, Mônica has recorded
and performed with important Brazilian artists like Edu Lobo, Eduardo
Gudin, José Miguel Wisnik, Marlui Miranda, Guinga, Nelson Ayres
and the Jazz Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo.
She was one of the soloists on the album CANÇÕES DE NINAR
by Paulo Tatit and Sandra Peres. The CD won Brasil's "Prêmio
Sharp - 95" as Best Recording for Children.
In 1995 she recorded AFRO SAMBAS, a voice and guitar album, arranged
and produced by Brazilian guitarist Paulo Bellinati. The CD premiered
the complete Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes,
including the famous Berimbau and Consolação; released
in US and Europe by GSP (Guitar Solo Publication) Records.
In the same year, recorded with Paulo Bellinati the song "A Felicidade"
by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes for one Brazilian Jobim's song book
by Lumiar Records.
In 1997, she was nominated for Prêmio Sharp - 97 as Best New Singer
on Brazilian Popular Music with the Cd AFRO
SAMBAS.
In 1998 she recorded her first solo Cd TRAMPOLIM - Pau Brasil Music
(in Brazil) and Bluejackel Records (in USA) produced by Rodolfo Stroeter.
The cd features some of the most creative musicians in Brazilian contemporary
music such as Nana Vasconcelos, Teco Cardoso, Paulo Bellinati, among
others.
In May of 1999, Monica Salmaso won the Visa-Mastercard-Eldorado Prize
for best singer in Brazil among 1.200 contestants, all over the country.
The prize has earned attention over Monica's talent and career, and
during august/september 99 she recorded for Eldorado records, her third
album.
VOADEIRA is also produced by Rodolfo Stroeter. The album has been qualified
by the press, as one of the best releases of 99 in Brazilian Popular
Music. "Voadeira" features Marcos Suzano, Benjamim Taubkin,
Naylor "Proveta", Toninho Ferragutti and Paulo Bellinati,
among others.
Also in 1999 Mônica was awarded as the “best singer”
from Brazil. The prize was conceded by APCA – (Associação
Paulista dos Críticos de Arte), and it is particularly important
as it is given by a poll of the most important Brazilian press community
.
Since 1998, Monica also sings with the Orquestra Popular de Câmara
- a 12 piece band - that blends the Brazilian musical heritage along
with the personal contribution of each one of the renowned soloist of
the group.
In 2004,
she has released her fourth cd IAIÁ by
the label Biscoito Fino (in Brazil), released in USA and Europe by Harmonia
Mundi.
Took an important part as a singer in the movie “Vinicius”
about the life and work of Vinicius de Morais, directed by Miguel Faria
Jr
Took part in the most recent cd recorded by Chico Buarque, "Carioca",
singing the song “Imagina” composed by Chico Buarque and
Tom Jobim.
Releases
in 2007 her 5th cd "Noites de gala, samba na rua" with songs
composed by Chico Buarque and the quintet Pau Brasil as special guest.
