What is Beyond Jupiter?
On special occasions and when the stars are in the correct alignment, Masai "Electro" Green, one the world's most innovative beatboxers, sneaks away from his hip-hop kingdom and makes groundbreaking a cappella music with the international touring pop-rock a cappella group, Blue Jupiter. On those occasions, the resulting NYC-based, beat-driven ensemble has gone by the name "Beyond Jupiter".
Masai "Electro" is known for his vocal special effects -from electronic synthesized bass, to drums, to dogs barking. Blue Jupiter handles the leads and harmonies, as always, and Marty Gasper and Jonathan Minkoff jump from vocal percussion to vocal parts and back again. The sound is insistent, electronic and, as the name implies, out of this world.
Masai "Electro" is known for his vocal special effects -from electronic synthesized bass, to drums, to dogs barking. Blue Jupiter handles the leads and harmonies, as always, and Marty Gasper and Jonathan Minkoff jump from vocal percussion to vocal parts and back again. The sound is insistent, electronic and, as the name implies, out of this world.
History.
Back in October 2004, New York City beatboxer Masai "Electro" and (then) Nashville-based a cappella group, Blue Jupiter had both been invited to perform at the East Coast A cappella Summit by producers, Jonathan Minkoff and Diana Preisler.
Little did they all know that this would be the start of lifelong friendships.
Masai "Electro" is shown here delivering his lecture-demonstration on beatboxing where he was joined by beatboxers YoYoBeats and Midi. (Kid Beyond, Wes Carroll and Marty Gasper also gave vocal percussion-related lectures at this a cappella summit.)
Little did they all know that this would be the start of lifelong friendships.
Masai "Electro" is shown here delivering his lecture-demonstration on beatboxing where he was joined by beatboxers YoYoBeats and Midi. (Kid Beyond, Wes Carroll and Marty Gasper also gave vocal percussion-related lectures at this a cappella summit.)
Blue Jupiter, then consisting of Marty Gasper, Chris Chatham,
Toby Donelly and Justin Caldwell
embraced the opportunity to work with other artists at the 2004 summit.
Here they are shown performing with world-renown
vocal percussionist, Wes Carroll at the main event.
Toby Donelly and Justin Caldwell
embraced the opportunity to work with other artists at the 2004 summit.
Here they are shown performing with world-renown
vocal percussionist, Wes Carroll at the main event.
Having all become fast friends at the 2004 East Coast Summit, Jonathan and Diana invited Blue Jupiter to come to
New York City
where they warmly adopted
the highly enjoyable
"eat-drink-make-music" business plan.
New York City
where they warmly adopted
the highly enjoyable
"eat-drink-make-music" business plan.
During Blue Jupiter's stay, Jonathan and Diana arranged a performance for the group at Paul Colby's
famous nightclub, "The Bitter End".
The Bitter End has featured many a cappella groups, from Blind Man's Bluff to the House Jacks to Five O'Clock Shadow, as well as many pop icons from Billy Joel to Elton John.
Blue Jupiter is pictured here with YoYoBeats as a special guest.
famous nightclub, "The Bitter End".
The Bitter End has featured many a cappella groups, from Blind Man's Bluff to the House Jacks to Five O'Clock Shadow, as well as many pop icons from Billy Joel to Elton John.
Blue Jupiter is pictured here with YoYoBeats as a special guest.
And of course, among those cheering them on at the concert was
new friend, Masai "Electro", pictured here with beatboxer Midi,
former CASA board member, Kahlene Ohlemacher
and beatboxer, YoYo Beats,
following the show.
new friend, Masai "Electro", pictured here with beatboxer Midi,
former CASA board member, Kahlene Ohlemacher
and beatboxer, YoYo Beats,
following the show.
It wasn't long before Blue Jupiter needed a sub to fill in for their growing schedule of tour dates.
When the moment came, they called on Jonathan.
As their friendships strengthened, they came to call on Jonathan to join as a guest artist more frequently.
And during this time Diana's role in the band grew as well.
They asked her to manage Blue Jupiter's career.
When the moment came, they called on Jonathan.
As their friendships strengthened, they came to call on Jonathan to join as a guest artist more frequently.
And during this time Diana's role in the band grew as well.
They asked her to manage Blue Jupiter's career.
Diana helped the band focus their sound and image.
Her management brought them many successes including a national commercial
advertising Oreo Cookies produced by American Idol's Randy Jackson.
The national exposure opened doors for the group, both in the United States and in Asia.
It was on these Asian tours that Diana began to sing with Blue Jupiter as a guest artist.
Her management brought them many successes including a national commercial
advertising Oreo Cookies produced by American Idol's Randy Jackson.
The national exposure opened doors for the group, both in the United States and in Asia.
It was on these Asian tours that Diana began to sing with Blue Jupiter as a guest artist.
Diana's background as a Broadway singer and actress was a perfect match for the more theatrical markets of China and Japan. But once back in the United States, the band found that they couldn't do without her talents.
Meanwhile, Jonathan and Diana were now producing a new a cappella summit, SingStrong and they knew they wanted to bring Masai "Electro"'s unique sound to this new audience.
Meanwhile, Jonathan and Diana were now producing a new a cappella summit, SingStrong and they knew they wanted to bring Masai "Electro"'s unique sound to this new audience.
Masai Electro is shown here performing at SingStrongDC2010 in Reston, VA. Photo by Rassi Borneo of Timeline Media.
Masai Electro, teaching beatboxing techniques at SingStrongDC2010 along with Jon Ryan, Fii and Wes Carroll.
Finally, in 2009 Blue Jupiter asked if Masai would join them for the Beyond Jupiter project. And after six years of sharing the stage, the time was finally right to make music together.
