Mamma Alto

Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste, and a countertenor diva. Mama Alto (Benny Dimas) is a unique songstress with a voice that transcends gender. “Opening my mouth, singing with my voice, is an act of transgression against traditional gendered vocal roles, and indeed, of traditional expectations of gender constructed by society. The voice of Mama Alto – my voice – is a voice that defies gender, the (ascribed to be) female voice of the contralto or mezzo-soprano within the body of what is (ascribed to be) a man.” Drawing on the perceived difference – as a countertenor, as queer, and as a person of colour – Mama Alto rejoices in individuality to embrace the identity of a vintage torch-singing diva.” Mama Alto is Melbourne based, and for the past two years has presented sold-out cabaret performances at The Butterfly Club in Melbourne. “Mama Alto: Countertenor Diva” has spent 2014 on tour, performing to rave reviews at Perth’s Noodle Palace Piccadilly Cinema for FRINGE WORLD FESTIVAL, and at La Boheme cabaret club for ADELAIDE FRINGE. In Adelaide, the show won a Fringe Weekly Award for Best Cabaret (Week 4), a nomination for BankSA Best Cabaret, and received four stars in the Adelaide Advertiser. The Butterfly Club (Carson Place, off Little Collins, Melbourne CBD) Melbourne Cabaret Festival shows: June 21 9pm, June 22 8pm You can check out a small clip in the photos to the right of Benny Dimas, (Mama Alto) singing a bit of “Summertime” with Roderick Cairns at a relaxed backyard garden performance during the Adelaide Fringe. Beautiful stuff. We took some awesome shots post performance earlier in the month at Chapel off Chapel of Mama Alto is an Evening With Billy Holiday here.