o sister! - marmaduke

The New Jazz Age
O Sister! is a tribute to the North American popular music from the 1920s and 30s, and in particular, to
the golden ages of “Dixie” and “Swing”. The Boswell Sisters, the band’s main artistic influence, were a groundbreaking female vocal jazz trio perhaps not as popular as they deserved to be, in spite of being imitated by
many later vocal jazz groups and admired by artists as important as Ella Fitzgerald herself.
It was the surprisingly modern way, despite the years gone by, in which The Boswell Sisters approached the
use of harmony, rhythm and vocal resources that encouraged singer Paula Padilla to start the project in 2007.
Since then the band has focused mainly on two lines of work: researching a relatively unknown repertoire
from the early stages of jazz, of great interest both for its melodic qualities and for its lyrics; and arranging
with vocal harmonies the“standard” songs and classics from the Golden Age of Swing which cannot be found
in three voice-part versions on recordings.
But none of this work would make sense without offering this music in live performance, the way it took
place back in the 30s, in theatres, clubs, or even in the street. O Sister! updates that style and brings it to wider
audiences, not only to the usual jazz connoisseur, recuperating an open, spontaneous, direct and fun way of
understanding the musical experience; so necessary nowadays, when the social situation too easily reminds us
of life during the famous Great Depression.
The Singers
Helena, Paula and Marcos have spent many years singing together in various vocal and choral ensembles.
During this time they have developed a solid vocal technique and an ease for blending their voices. In both
joint and individual projects they have tackled repertoires ranging from Early to Contemporary music, lyric,
jazz, bossa or pop-rock music. The three currently also form part of Proyecto Ele, a voice and electronics ensemble exploring modern vocal and experimental music, with a long list of shows and performances.
Helena Amado
Marcos Padilla
Paula Padilla
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 Conservatory.
Born in Seville, Marcos studied
viola but finally his instrument
was the guitar . 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.
Born in Seville and graduated in
Fine Arts, Paula sings and plays
the ukulele. For 7 years she was
the vocalist of “Solina”, a pop
group. Founding member of
O Sister!, she also does the vocal
arrangements and the graphic
designs for the group’s albums.
Matías Comino
Pablo Cabra
Camilo Bosso
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 specialised
in the “manouche” guitar
technique.
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”.
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”.
Soprano
Tenor
Alto
The Musicians
Guitar
Drums
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Bass
The Albums
On their records, the band has always wanted to be faithful to the way early jazz was captured. Thus, the recording process has always been carried out strictly live, with all musicians playing at the same time and in the
same room, in the pure early style of recording. In doing so, O Sister! tries to catch in their albums the same
freshness and spontaneity that they deliver in their concerts. The band has released three albums under the
label Discóbolo: “Crazy People”, “Shout Sister!”, and “Spooky Sessions”; all of which were recorded and mixed
at producer and musician Jordi Gil’s Sputnik studio in Seville.
On these albums, the ensemble has enjoyed the contributions of excellent musicians such as pianist Ángel
Andrés Muñoz (a regular collaborator), clarinet player Juli Aymí, trumpet player Dani Cano or manouche
guitarist Paul Laborda, among many others.
Spooky Sessions
(2014)
This EP captures some live performances carried out at the “Sputnik” studio, showing the ease of the group
to connect with the audience. Conceived around a range of “sinister” topics, these sessions contain songs
where humour and terror blend together. They include among other curiosities the track “Raska-yú”, the first
song they record in Spanish. The closing track “Cryin’ Blues” also stands out, recorded in a way totally different to the band’s regular procedures, this time with the elements on separate tracks, capturing a playful and
somewhat histrionic rendering of one of the Boswell Sisters’ first compositions.
Shout Sister!
(2012)
The band’s second album shows a clear evolution in their sound and a refined work on harmonies and
arrangements, adapting classics like “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, “Anything Goes” or the delicate “Dream a little
Dream of Me” into very personal renderings with three voice part close-harmonies and incorporating new
elements that define a style of their own.
Crazy People
(2009)
The first O Sister! album was recorded in the purest 1920’s way, using solely two twin microphones placed
in the middle of the recording room to capture the sound of singers and musicians, all placed strategically
around them. This CD offers a collection of Boswell Sisters songs and includes a very personal version of Duke
Ellington’s classic “It Don’t Mean a Thing”. It also has rarities as the special appearances of a marching band on
the song “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, and a string quartet on “Stardust”.
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The Critics
“O Sister! Is one of this year’s big surprises. From what
happy star alignment may this idea have arisen? From
where this project that started as a celebration of the
music and spirit of the Boswell Sisters? Paula and Marcos
Padilla, together with Helena Amado and Matías Comino, manage to bring alive the vibrant ‘30s, the golden
age of jazz, as if it didn’t belong to the past, but to the
most unpredictable and exciting present day, the one they
write with their radiant music. Essential.”
Alberto Marina, writer and jazz critic.
“The first time I saw them performing at the RNE Spanish
National Radio Studios I was completely captivated,
and my opinion was corroborated at their concert last
night in Madrid, where we lived magical, wonderful
moments…”
Juan de Pablos, radio announcer and director of
“Flor de Pasión” programme on RNE-3.
“...The best part, however, is not the repertoire itself, which
is obviously brilliant, but the exceptional performance level that these Sevilians have built throughout their career
onstage (…) Their measure of each rendering factor transmits a great talent and many, many hours of seeking
perfection (…) All six musicians and singers blended their
crafts at the Café Central in Madrid reaching celestial
moments in which the harmonies fluttered through the
applauses of a jolly audience who could enjoy a 2 hour
performance”
Ignacio Serrano. ABC.
“O Sister!’s appearance at the Fex Festival in Granada
was a great success. One hundred seats had to be added,
and even this wasn’t enough, as still many, many people
couldn’t get in (…) The group, formed by three magnificent singers and three no less superb musicians, re-creates
to perfection the genuine savour of the jazz from the 20’s
and 30’s, with curious vocal procedures including vocal
horn sound imitations, falsetto and other musical games”.
Eladio Mateos. Granada Hoy.
“O Sister! reaches far beyond what could be considered
a revival exercise. The Padilla siblings, Helena Amado
and Matías Comino relive, in fact, an old-time, beautiful
and good humoured vocal-jazz repertoire, centred in the
30s, but they deliver it with such a degree of perfection
that they leave the audience first open-mouthed, then
devoted.”
Blas Fernández. Diario de Sevilla.
“Their second album ‘Shout Sister!’ is an inspired lesson
in Jazz History, a journey through the styles that saw it
grow and evolve. The group’s character is based on the
three lead voices by the Padilla siblings and Helena Amado, who manage to design and render very polished vocal
arrangements, including all kinds of effects; not forgetting the well blended rhythm section formed by Matías
Comino on guitar, Camilo Bosso on bass and Pablo Cabra
on drums.”
Manuel Recio. Europa Press.
The Boswell Connection
During recent years, O Sister! has been in touch with 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-dle-ee-oo-de-oo”) is revealed in a mini-documentary and
videoclip launched in February 2013, filmed by Gonzalo Posada during the recording sessions at Sputnik
studio. It won enthusiastic acceptance among the relatives and friends of the Boswells.
From Seville to New Orleans
In 2014, O Sister! had the honour of receiving a personal invitation from Vet Boswell’s granddaughter and
family representative Kyla Titus, to join a series of very special Boswell Sisters tribute events celebrated in
New Orleans that year, “The Year of the Boswell Sisters Revival”. The events end with a music festival held at
“The Old U.S. Mint” in the Mississippi Delta Capital’s French Quarter, in which several vocal jazz groups from
around the world play the Boswell Sisters songbook, O Sister! being the only European band to attend.
Through a crowdfunding campaign set up in the summer of 2014 the band manages to raise enough funds
to fulfil this adventure in the city which was the cradle of jazz. Thanks to their fans’ support, they finally leap
overseas to attend the event in the U.S.A.
Aside from participating in the Boswell event, O Sister! complete their trip to New Orleans with a gig in one
of the city’s classic jazz clubs, the “Snug Harbor”.
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A Live History
-48 noches, Cultura Abierta en la Unia. -XIV “Nights in the Royal Alcázar Seville. September 2014
Gardens” Cycle (3 concerts). Seville, Summer 2013
-Festival Cançons de la Mediterrania. Castell de Bellver, Palma de Mallorca. -“Summer in the Santa Catalina August 2014
Castle” Cycle. Cádiz, August 2013
-Tribute to the Boswell Sisters. Clamores -I “Sevilla Swing!” Festival. April 2013
jazz club, Madrid. August 2014
-IX “Ellas Crean” Women Artists -Festival Musicalismos. Sada. Festival. Clamores Concert Club. August 2014
Madrid, March 2013
-White Night of Culture. Aracena. July 2014
-Festival de Jazz de Godella. Valencia.
July 2014
-Daily performance week at Café Central Concert Club. Madrid, Summers 2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011
-Lindy Hop Concert at the Lloseta Theatre. Mallorca. May 2014
-II Festival Sevillla Swing! April 2014
-XXVII Málaga International Jazz Festival. November 2013
-XXII “Jazz en la Provincia” Festival, Seville. November 2013
-IV “Swing Madrid” Festival (dance festival). March 2012
-“Caja Burgos” Jazz Cycle. (3 concerts) February-May 2011
-IX “Fundación Progreso y Cultura” Festival ( part of the Madrid Jazz Festival). Madrid, October 2011
-Extrordinary Concert with the - “AiE, Artistas en Ruta” Tour “Clasijazz” Big Band. Maestro Padilla Programme, Galicia, Madrid and Auditorium, Almería. March 2013
Badajoz. November 2010
-7 performance week at the Half Note Jazz Club. Athens, Greece, December 2012
-Performances at Cánovas Theatre, Málaga, and Alhambra Theatre, Granada. December 2012 -XXXIII Granada International Jazz Festival. November 2012
-XIII “Nights in the Royal Alcázar Gardens” Cycle (4 concerts). Seville, Summer 2012
-VI “Universijazz” Festival. Alcalá de -XV Menorca Jazz Festival. Cuitadella, Henares, Madrid, July 2012
Menorca. October 2013
-XV “Platja d’Aro Jazz Nights” Cycle. -“Swinging Sundays” at Jamboree Jazz Girona, July 2012
Club. Barcelona. October 2013
-“Shake That Thing!” Lindy Hop -III “Cita con las Músicas” Cycle, Nights. Concerts at the Nova Jazz
Cajasol Foundation. Seville, Cava Club,Terrassa and Suite dance hall, Barcelona. July 2012
October 2013
-Daily performance week at Café Central Concert Club. Madrid, Summers 2013, 2012 & 2011
-V “Estrella Galicia 1906” Jazz Cycle (4 concert tour) Galicia, March 2012
-IX “Encontro de Culturas” Festival, Serpa, Portugal. June 2012
-“La Playa del Pósito” Open Air -II Monachil Swing Festival. Granada, Festival. Jaén. Summer 2012
July 2013
-“Jazz Viene del Sur” Cycle. Teatro Central, Seville, March 2010
-XII “Platja d’Aro Jazz Nights” Cycle. Girona, August 2009
-“Mas i Mas” Festival 2009. Jamboree Jazz Club, Barcelona
-“FEX 2010” Granada International Music and Dance Festival
-“Circuito Andaluz de Música”, tours in Andalusian cities, 2010, 2011, 2012
-III “Mijas Jazz” Festival 2011, Málaga
-Jazz Sessions 2010 ( Jazz Festival organised by the Seville University)
-“Almería Cultural Festival”, 2009
-Cádiz Theatre Circuit, 2010
-XIX “Jazz en la Provincia” International Jazz Festival. Seville, 2009
-I “Apolo y Baco”Cultural Encounter. Seville, 2009
-Numerous concerts in theatres and jazz clubs in Madrid, Bilbao, Seville, Granada, Almería, Mallorca, etc.
The Shows
Their staging, theatrical sense and rapport with the audience, together with the quality and spontaneity
of their live performances are more than enough motives to understand why O Sister! is a band to enjoy in
concert. These elements have been the base of the band’s success in Spain’s main swing circuits during the last
years, and have more recently aroused interest abroad.
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 Café 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 Ágreda 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 Días Como Hoy” (RNE1), “Flor de Pasión” (Radio3), “Mundo Babel” (Radio3), “El Día 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”.
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Links:
Web: www.osister.es
Audio on-line: http://osister.bandcamp.com/
Vídeos: http://vimeo.com/user790471 / http://www.youtube.com/yowzajazz
Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/osister
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/osister
Twitter: http://twitter.com/osisterjazz
Management / Contracting:
Press / Communication:
Ivan Pivotti
Olga Beca
MARMADUKE S.L.
TELEGRAMA COMUNICACIÓN
(+34) 954 065 525 , (+34) 607 432 345
[email protected]
(+34) 620 81 05 19
[email protected]