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Page 1 of 2  There's a certain thrill in sharing a new find with friends. "Have you tried this new restaurant?" "Seen this great new movie?"
I've got a whopper for you all: the best American a cappella group you've never heard of.
They're called Mosaic, and they've somehow "bubbled under" the a cappella community's consciousness while performing for hundreds of thousands of fans across North America annually.
Their full-time gig is performing with George Wallace in the Las Vegas Flamingo Showroom. They hit the stage, do a few uptempo tunes to get the crowd pumped up (Earth Wind and Fire's "Shining Star," Sly Stone's "Thank You" and "Dance to the Music"). Once George enters, I figured they were done, but they remained on the stage and were the focus of the act for the remainder of the hour as he joked with them and about them (pretending each one of them is one of his kids from a different woman).
Although Toxic Audio did take their "Loudmouth" show from off Broadway to Vegas, this is the first time I've seen a real late-night Vegas-style show in which a cappella played a significant part. It works beautifully, as the comedy and music interweave to leave the audience both stunned and in stitches at the same time.
When they're not hitting the stage like a 21st century uber-rat pack, they're often found on Royal Caribbean ships, entertaining the passengers and working on their tans.
What do they sound like? R&B tunes, funk sensibility, jazz chords, and sizzling tempos, all the while locked into a tight groove in perfect tune. And it goes without saying: a wicked sense of humor.
I have to admit, I have a connection to these guys, as the group was founded in Orlando from the men's section of American Vybe. Three former Vybe guys remain in the lineup, along with a trio of fantastic tenors to round out the sound. They started out picking up the corporate work that Toxic had to leave behind when leaving for Broadway, and shortly thereafter decided to move to a place where they could make their mark. Their other top three choices were Los Angeles and New York, and I commended them on choosing an untapped market.
But that's changing. I just returned from participation in the Second Annual Las Vegas A Cappella Summit, and I've never seen such talent in emerging high school groups. My gut tells me Las Vegas will be an a cappella hotspot 5 years from now. And Mosaic will be the kings of this new hill. A well-deserved title.
The only problem with these guys? They only have one album!
So do me a favor: drop by their very enjoyable web site (http://www.notaboyband.com), check 'em out, perhaps see them in Vegas, and then tell them to get off their duffs and get back in the studio.
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