Cap'n Jazz

Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz performing live in 2010
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Emo, indie rock, post-hardcore
Years active	1989–1995, 2010
Labels	Jade Tree
Associated acts	Joan of Arc, The Promise Ring, Make Believe, Owls, Owen, American Football, Ghosts and Vodka
Past members	Tim Kinsella Mike Kinsella Sam Zurick Victor Villarreal Davey von Bohlen

Cap'n Jazz was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen, the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the Midwest.

History

Capn'n Jazz recorded several singles for independent labels in the early 90s as well as contributing to several compilations.

In 1995, the band released its only full-length album, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped on and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over on the Man with Gun label. The album is sometimes referred to as Shmap'n Shmazz, which was printed on top of the CD.

The band broke up in July 1995, shortly after Shmap'n Shmazz's release, on the night of a show at Little Rock's Das Yutes a Go-Go. In 1998, Jade Tree assembled a double-disc Cap'n Jazz retrospective titled Analphabetapolothology which compiles the band's complete recorded works: Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.

The band's lineup was Tim Kinsella (vocals); Samuel Zurick (bass guitar); Mike Kinsella (drums, vocals); Victor Villarreal (guitar, vocals); and Davey von Bohlen (guitar, vocals from 1994–95).

Reunion

Cap'n Jazz reunited at The Empty Bottle on Friday, January 22, 2010, as part of Joan of Arc's Don't Mind Control Variety Show.

After playing that short, impromptu set in Chicago, the band played its first official reunited show at the annual Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 10, 2010, and a hometown reunion show a week later at the Bottom Lounge, supporting the vinyl re-release of Analphabetapolothology on Jade Tree Records, where they gained success. Due to the show selling out in about 48 hours, a second show was added the next night. Later, it was announced that they would also be playing reunion shows across the United States during the summer and fall of 2010.

Legacy

Cap N Jazz have influenced a number of bands. Former members of the band continue to play music, most notably in Make Believe, The Promise Ring, American Football, Owls, Ghosts and Vodka, Joan of Arc and Owen.

Discography

Studio albums

• Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (Also known as Shmap'n Shmazz) – LP/CD (Man With Gun Records, 1994).

7”

• Sometimes if you stand further away from something, it does not seem as big. Sometimes you can stand so close to something you can not tell what you are looking at. – 7” (Underdog Records, 1993).
• Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action – (Further Beyond Records, 1993).

Anthology

• Analphabetapolothology – 2xCD (Jade Tree Records, 1998), 2xLP (Jade Tree Records 2010).

Compilations

• Achtung Chicago! Zwei! – compilation LP (Underdog Records, 1993).
• Nothing Dies with Blue Skies – 7” split w/ Friction (Shakefork Records, 1993).
• How the Midwest Was Won – compilation 2x7” (Subfusc Records, 1993) (Playing Field Recordings, 1993).
• Picking More Daisies – compilation 2x7” (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
• It’s a Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand – compilation LP (Shakefork Records, 1993).
• Ghost Dance – compilation 2x7” (Slave Cut Records, 1993).
• A Very Punk Christmas – compilation 2x7” (The Rocco Empire & Further Beyond Records, 1993).
• Punk TV – compilation LP (Red Dawg Records, 1995).
• We’ve Lost Beauty – compilation LP (File 13, 1995).
• Ooh Do I Love You – compilation 2xCD (Core For Care, 1995).

External links

• Jade Tree Records’ band page