Arguably, the best jazz fusion (and sometimes a cappella) vocal group out there is Manhattan Transfer. I think I became a fan of them around 1974 or so and since then, they've maintained their high standard, even through a few personnel replacements. Most recently, group founder Tim Hauser died last year and was replaced by Trist Curless. Hauser is missed but they're still a great group.
And if you were going to argue that some vocal group is better, you'd probably argue for Take Six, which is a (mostly) a cappella and (mostly) Gospel group. They're really good, too.
Happily, these two groups are not in competition. In fact, they will soon be touring in tandem. They're calling it The Summit — Manhattan Transfer and Take Six sharing a stage, singing some songs apart and some together — and last night, Carolyn and I got a preview. Described as a "work in progress," they did two nights at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Boy, was it a great evening. I don't know how to say it other than that together and apart, the groups were superb — artists working at the top of their game. There was a joy of performing emanating from the stage and an opposite and equal joy bouncing back to them from the audience. I can't recall the last time I was in a room with that much happiness.
There was also a surprise guest star — a surprise to those on stage. Before the show started while we were all dining, Carolyn spotted Dick Van Dyke and his lovely wife Arlene in the house and I went by to say howdy. Dick has his own a cappella group, the Vantastix, and he and one of its members, Eric Bradley, came by to study how others do it.
Later, someone — it wasn't me — told the musical groups that Dick Van Dyke was in the house and they introduced him from the stage. The audience erupted in applause and Dick took a bow as the two groups on stage launched into a hastily-improvised, a cappella chorus of the theme from The Dick Van Dyke Show. It was a thrilling moment in an evening that already had a surplus. But it may have been my favorite.
Manhattan Transfer and Take Six will soon be touring with The Summit. I believe the kick off is May 15 in Bridgeport, CT followed by May 16 in Glenside, PA. If they come this way, I'm getting tickets. If they come near you, take the hint. Both groups are also touring individually and you could do worse than see either.