Face
Ben Lunstad and Joseph DiMasi had a vision to create a vocal band unlike any other – not just passion and power, not just a wall of sound, but also a musical experience that leaves people breathless with every moment of every song. Ben and Joseph both had a habit of founding award-winning vocal ensembles, each starting groups of their own while undergrads. Grad school brought them both to University of Colorado, where they met singing in CU’s In The Buff. Deciding they wanted something slightly different, they left to co-found Extreme Measures, which went on to become 3-time semifinalists in ICCA’s collegiate a cappella competition.
It was in Extreme Measures that they met an unbelievable bass by the name of Forest Kelly. Inviting him into their vision, the core of Face had begun. After graduation, they started the long and sometimes arduous process of finding the rest of the band. It would take two years before the personnel was stable enough to begin performing. In August 2004, Face founder Joseph DiMasi decided to pursue other business interests, which, with his Midas touch, also went on to great success.
In addition to Ben and Forest, Face has had vocal percussionist Mark Megibow from the beginning, who boasts 25 years of instrumental percussion in addition to his 10 years of astonishing vocal drumming and beat box. Cody Qualls added his soulful tenor early in Face's career, and has been a fan favorite for years. Ryan Driver brings powerful singing and arranging skills, as well as a wealth of experience after touring with the east coast's Almost Recess. Stephen Ross adds a blisteringly high counter-tenor and musical expertise, and Jayson Throckmorton simply rocks the house with his soaring power tenor.
Face is the two-time Champions of the Rocky Mountain Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, winning Audience Favorite in all four of its regional appearances. In 2005 they went on to place 2nd in the National Competition, as well as winning the coveted National Audience Favorite Award, and now the guys are poised to make even more noise on the national scene.
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O Fortuna |
One of our favorite Harmony Sweeps finalist groups (they placed second in both 2005 and 2007, winning Audience Favorite and Best Original Arrangement awards) we have followed the career of this multi-talented, all male sextet from Denver, CO. When NBC based their new hit show "The Sing-Off" on the Harmony Sweepstakes, we were thrilled to see Face rise up to become Finalists, and although they didn't win it all, the group gained a huge new following and showed a new generation of viewers what we all have known for years, the tremendous power and attraction of a live a cappella! In their new CD "Momentum" on their first cut, the dynamic "O Fortuna," arranged by group member Ben Lunstad, they include in parentheses that the song won Best Original Arrangement at the '07 National Harmony Sweeps Finals! There are 11 songs here, and it's clear that Face has ridden that success to turn themselves into one of a cappella's elite groups, with stellar arrangements by Lunstad and group members Ryan Driver and Stephen Ross. Listen to "Boondocks," Collins/Fagenson/Siebels' "Promise," Lennon/McCartney's "Let It Be," Griffiths/Orzabal's "Break It Down Again," Bicusse/Newley's sultry "Feeling Good," wonderful faux electric guitar on Cain/Perry/Schon's retro anthem "Don't Stop Believing," Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," Dean/Malloy/Mann/Taylor's "Looking for a Place to Land, Colin Hay's "Overkill," and Gilmore/Moore's "On the Turning Away," and you're listening to the new Face of a cappella, standard-bearers of a growing a cappella Renaissance. Don't miss the apty titled "Momentum!"
Listen to "Overkill"
| 1362 CD $14.95 |
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Home |
We have personally experienced the vocal power of Colorado-based, 7-man Face, who first began singing together in 2000, and first performed for the public in the summer of 2002--the year they won their first of three Audience Favorite awards at the Harmony Sweeps Rocky Mountain Regional. In Spring of 2005 they won the Regional and we saw them win Audience Favorite at the Harmony Sweeps National Finals, placing 2nd overall. "Forward" is exactly that, a collection of 11 covers that announce to the a cappella world that Face is ready to join the elite. Beginning with Mark Broussard's driving "Home," Tonic's brooding "If You Could Only See" and some amazing vocal sax, trumpet and keyboards on Mancini's "Pink Panther Theme;" the great song selection continues with Counting Crows' bouncy "Accidentally In Love," the BeeGees' romantic anthem "How Deep Is Your Love," The Hoodoo Gurus' Adams Familyesque "Dig It Up" and "American Passion," an incongruous medley of Bach's "Erkenne Mich, Mein Huter" and Paul Simon's "American Tune" which totally works. "Forward" is an impressive collection that moves and touches us—great stuff!
Listen to "If You Could Only See"
| 2406 CD $14.95 |
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Harder to Breathe |
We never forget a Face, especially having just savored the Boulder, CO's memorable performance at the 2005 Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael and personally counted their winning votes for Audience Favorite (the judges also awarded them 2nd Place in a hugely talented field of 8 Regional winners). Face performed two of the 5 songs on this sampler CD at the Finals, a dramatic, soaring cover of Maroon 5's wonderful "Harder to Breathe" and a big fun, rock-solid vocal-percussion cover of Men Without Hats' 80's Techno hit "Safety Dance." Cake's "Short Skirt, Long Jacket" gets an appropriately manic, energetic treatment, and "The River Runs Slow" is a flowing, rhythmic, harmonic treat. The final cut is a sweet, sexy arrrangement of Marvin Gaye's seduction anthem "Sexual Healing." "Wake Up," and Face's live performance, give notice that this hard-working, talented group is ready for the bigtime in the a cappella world!
| 7454 CD $7.95 |
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