Perplexed committee rejected eight-piece band without a word (4)
I believe the answer is:
mime
'band without a word' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'perplexed committee rejected eight-piece' is the wordplay.
'perplexed' is an anagram indicator.
'rejected' is a deletion indicator.
'eight-piece' becomes 'octet' (I've seen this in another clue).
'committee' with 'octet' taken away is 'mmie'.
'mmie' is an anagram of 'MIME'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mime that I've seen before include "Act without dialogue" , "Silent performance" , "Wagnerian role?" , "Charade" , "Acting dumb?" .)