O SISTER!

O Sister! - From Dixie to Swing


The Musicians

Helena Amado (Soprano). Born in Seville, where she studied classical guitar and graduated in musical teaching. Helena combines a sweet and flexible soprano voice with a gift for comedy. She is currently studying singing at the Madrid Conservatory.

Marcos Padilla (Tenor). Born in Seville, Marcos studied viola and graduated as a draughtsman. He has an agile tenor voice with a wide range and an ease for falsetto. His timbre adapts perfectly to popular styles like jazz, blues and western-swing.

Paula Padilla (Alto). Born in Seville and graduated in Fine Arts, Paula sings, tap dances and plays the ukulele. For 7 years she was the vocalist of Solina. Founding member of O Sister!, she also does the vocal arrangements and the graphic designs for the groups albums.

Matas Comino (Guitar). He was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) but has lived in Seville since 1990. Guitarist and composer, he also teaches guitar, modern harmony and jazz. He is the main musical arranger for O Sister! and has lately specialized in the manouche guitar technique.

Pablo Cabra (Drums). Born in Madrid, Pablo moved to Seville in 1982. A self-taught drummer, his interest in various styles has given him flexibility, technical dexterity and a natural talent for collective work. He also plays with the rock-pop groups Sr. Chinarro and Maga.

Camilo Bosso (Bass). Born in London (UK) Camilo has lived in Madrid since 1978. A bass player with both classical and modern training, he also plays keyboards. He has formed part of classical, jazz, folk and tango groups and is also a member of the group
Las Buenas Noches.  

The Albums

The band has released two albums under the label Discbolo. Both Crazy People (2009) and Shout Sister! (2012) were recorded and mixed at producer and musician Jordi Gils Sputnik studio in Seville. On both their released albums, the ensemble has enjoyed the contributions of excellent musicians such as pianist ngel Andrs Muoz (a regular collaborator), clarinet player Juli Aym or manouche guitarist Paul Laborda, among others.
The Boswell Connection
During recent years, O Sister! has been in touch close relatives of the New Orleans trio The Boswell Sisters as well as other people who knew them and strive to preserve their legacy. As a result of that rapport and in acknowledgement of O Sister!s work in keeping the Boswell spirit alive, the band received an unexpected surprise that embarked them upon one of the most rewarding challenges of their career.
In 2012 the Boswell Sisters heirs sent O Sister! the sheet music sketch of an unfinished and unrecorded piece by the Sisters with their permission and encouragement to bring it to life. Starting from just a fragment of melody and lyrics, O Sister! developed a song structure, composed a new section, and arranged the song for their own format.
The creative process of the song (titled YOU-DLEE-OO-DLEE OO) is revealed in a mini-documentary and videoclip launched in February 2013, filmed by Gonzalo Posada during the recording sessions at Sputnik Studios. It won enthusiastic acceptance among the relatives and friends of the Boswells.

The Shows
Since their first small format performance, in the summer of 2008, the group has taken part in many musical and cultural events throughout the Spanish territory, also travelling to Portugal and Greece. Over the years O Sister! has won a place in the regular programming of emblematic Spanish jazz clubs such as Caf Central or Sala Clamores in Madrid, or Jamboree in Barcelona.
Aside from this performing activity in jazz clubs, the sextet prove their versatility in theatres where the staging element of their shows gains importance. Examples of this are their shows From Dixie to Broadway, for their 2nd album, and An Illustrated Concert, in which the creative process of artists Jose Luis greda and Pedro Alpera is projected on large onstage screens as they illustrate the songs while O Sister! performs them.

The Broadcast
O Sister! has performed live on several programmes on Spanish National Radio (RNE) such as: Melodias Pizarras (Radio3), Carne Cruda (Radio 3), En Das Como Hoy (RNE1), Flor de Pasin (Radio3), Mundo Babel (Radio3), El Da Menos Pensado (RNE1), Hoy Empieza Todo (Radio3), En la Nube (Radio3), or Me Lo Dices o Me Lo Cantas (Radio Exterior). O Sister! has also appeared on TV programmes such as Miradas 2 (La 2), TVE Territorial Information Services (La 1) or on Canal Sur programmes Las 1001 Noches and Al Sur.