Théâtre de l'Orangerie - Joao Selva

Tropicália funk jazz disco

Son of a pastor from Ipanema, João Selva grew up in Rio de Janeiro in a community of former prisoners and converted artists. In his childhood, he played his first notes on a guitar under the watchful eye of Wanda Sá – one of Bossa Nova’s iconic figures. The influence of his father, a music lover and collector of records of all sorts, led him to further his knowledge of Brazilian music, specializing in the practice of Capoeira Angola, Samba de Roda, Maracatu or Coco de Roda. At the age of 18, he began a career as a travelling artist playing music hall shows for children in Africa, South America and the Caribbean – before settling down in the city of Lyon, many years later.