HISTORY
- small girl was born a cappella In Montreal, Quebec in 1996 through improvised melodies and lyrics sung by Aliza Amihude where she performed Babealicious, Ode to Gord and Mr. Mystery in three clubs before moving to Jakarta, Indonesia in July 1997.
- In July 1999, Amihude moved back to Winnipeg, after a 9 year hiatus, to find a band to accompany her for an upcoming performance at the Calgary Arts Centre for the High Performance Rodeo and Engineered Air Theatre’s Singer Songwriter Series in January 2000.
- Jazz guitarist, Brian Zimmerman introduced her to Jeff Presslaff, musician and composer, who had recently immigrated from New York. That summer, she sang her songs to Jeff and he scored and arranged them for a jazz trio.
- Since the show in Calgary, small girl has performed at Jazz Winnipeg Festivals, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Gas Station Theatre, The Garrick Theatre, Le Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (where she was banned), at the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse, and at various clubs around Winnipeg.
- Aliza wrote a 55 minute musical, small girl Chokes the Chicken, that the quartet performed five times during the 2001 Winnipeg Fringe Festival. They received 4/5 stars in their Winnipeg Free Press review.
small girl DISCOGRAPHY:
Some New Songs from a small girl - 4 song CD, 1999
small girl Laughs – 5 minute laugh track CD, 2001
Girlfriend from Hades – 8 song CD, 2002
Jazz, Blues, Burlesque – 7 song CD, 2004
BIG BANANA – 14 song CD, 2007
REVIEWS:
Martin Morrow, Calgary Herald
“The spirit of Joe Cocker reincarnated in the body of Betty Boop”
Gilles Marchildon, Winnipeg Free Press
“Amihude is an endearing and voluptuously sexy stage presence” and “the high-calibre musicians take flight during the 55-minute show, brilliantly performing edgy and eclectic music, mostly sultry jazz sounds”
Larry LeBlanc, Canadian Editor for Billboard Magazine
“I Love Me and 2 Pods in a Pea knocked me on my ass!”
John Kendle, Editor Uptown Magazine
“vamping piano-based tunes are the stock-in-trade of Aliza Amihude…and reveal her to be a theatrical presence with a sound that is almost a throwback to the day of smoky cocktail lounges, silver lame backdrops, and singers in shimmering evening gowns and long black gloves”
Liz Clayton, as Manager of UMFM
“ Aliza is an intrepid warrior for visionary freedom. Somewhat naughty but never coy. And her back-up band is the best in the land!”
James Borsa, The Jenny Review
“Aliza is a very talented ans sharp presence on stage… a very sincere and likeable performer…a really great singing voice”
Citizen Stan
“Great music, wild dance, irrepressible spirit”
LINKS:
www.jeffpresslaff.com
www.alizaamihude.com
www.lab4design.com