Cap'n Jazz

Brothers Tim Kinsella and Mike Kinsella formed the band Toe Jam with Victor Villarreal, and Sam Zurick, in 1989, before eventually changing the band's name to Cap'n Jazz.{{Cite magazine |last=Exposito |first=Suzy |date=November 2, 2016 |title=American Football: Inside Emo Godfathers' Unlikely Return |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/american-football-inside-emo-godfathers-unlikely-return-122039/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331084802/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/american-football-inside-emo-godfathers-unlikely-return-122039/ |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |quote='Cap’n Jazz had that sort of Dischord, Fugazi influence,' says [Mike] Kinsella.}} Drawing influence from such bands as Gauge and Fugazi,{{Cite web |last=Golin |first=Matt |date=2010 |title=Gauge: 153 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHTfWtKKagk |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=YouTube |quote=22:07 'Unquantifiably, I think Gauge was the biggest inspiration on Cap'n Jazz. Like, we were just trying to sound like Gauge'}} Cap'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 release.

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 (save for Naive, their song on Achtung Chicago! Zwei): Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36768/capn-jazz-to-reunite-tonight-in-chicago|title=Cap'n Jazz to reunite tonight in Chicago|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Yancey, Bryne|date=January 22, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2022}} After playing a short, impromptu set in Chicago, the band played its first official reunited show at the annual Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 10, 2010,{{cite web |url=http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2010/photos-capn-jazz-at-forecastle/ |title=Photos: Cap'n Jazz at Forecastle |publisher=Buzzgrinder |date=July 13, 2010 |access-date=November 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919143549/http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2010/photos-capn-jazz-at-forecastle/ |archive-date=September 19, 2010 |df=mdy }} 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.{{cite web|last=Hudson|first=Alex|title=Cap'n Jazz Officially Reunite, Reissue Analphabetapolothology on Vinyl|url=http://exclaim.ca/News/capn_jazz_officially_reunite_reissue_analphabetapolothology_on_vinyl_2|publisher=exclaim.ca|access-date=February 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005001457/http://exclaim.ca/News/capn_jazz_officially_reunite_reissue_analphabetapolothology_on_vinyl_2|archive-date=October 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Deem|first=Anna|title=Cap'n Jazz Reunite in Chicago After 15-Year Hiatus|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/23/capn-jazz-reunite-in-chicago-after-15-year-hiatus/|publisher=AOL Music|access-date=February 4, 2011|archive-date=August 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829185553/http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/23/capn-jazz-reunite-in-chicago-after-15-year-hiatus/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/37113/capn-jazz-announce-second-reunion-show-vinyl-reissue|title=ap'n Jazz announce second reunion show, vinyl reissue|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Yancey, Bryne|date=February 17, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2022}} 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 {{cite web |url=http://www.jadetree.com/tours/artist/cap%27n_jazz/ |title=Tours |publisher=Jade Tree |access-date=November 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025002019/http://www.jadetree.com/tours/artist/cap%27n_jazz |archive-date=October 25, 2010 |df=mdy }} during the summer and fall of 2010.

Cap'n Jazz was included in the lineup for the 2017 FYF Fest in Los Angeles' Exposition Park.{{Cite web|url=https://fyffest.com/artist-lineup#!programmation=artist$cap-n-jazz/50|title=EXPLORE THE LINEUP|website=FYF Fest 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-09}} The FYF appearance was followed by shows in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and London, including an appearance at Riot Fest 2017 in Chicago.

The band reunited again for a show at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on Sunday, October 6, 2024.{{cite web |last=Sacher

|first=Andrew |title="See videos & setlist of Cap'n Jazz's first show in 7 years" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/see-videos-setlist-of-capn-jazzs-first-show-in-7-years |publisher=BrooklynVegan |access-date=October 7, 2024}} The band also played Best Friends Forever Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 11, 2024.{{cite web |last=Staff |first=SPIN |title="Dismemberment Plan, Cap’n Jazz Reuniting For Best Friends Forever" |url=https://www.spin.com/2024/02/dismemberment-plan-capn-jazz-best-friends-forever |publisher=SPIN |access-date=October 7, 2024}} They have since announced a 2025 tour with Coffin Prick to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Shmap'n Shmazz. {{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |title=Cap'n Jazz announce 2025 US reunion tour (BV presale for NYC) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/capn-jazz-announce-2025-us-reunion-tour-bv-presale-for-nyc/ |publisher=BrooklynVegan |access-date=14 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Cap'n Jazz Tour 2025 - Concert Dates & Tickets |url=https://capnjazztour.com/ |access-date=15 May 2025}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Cap'n Jazz have influenced a number of bands.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Algernon Cadwallader has been noted for their sonic similarities to Cap'n Jazz, and have likewise cited the band as a primary influence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/35326/interviews-peter-helmis-algernon-cadwallader|title = Interviews: Peter Helmis (Algernon Cadwallader)| date=September 24, 2009 }}

The American post-hardcore band Scary Kids Scaring Kids took their name from a homonymous Cap'n Jazz song.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p692139|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic biography|publisher=Allmusic|author=Apar, Corey|access-date=2007-12-23}}

• Tim Kinsella – lead vocals, French horn (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024–present)
• Mike Kinsella – drums (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024–present)
• Victor Villarreal – guitar (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024–present)
• Sam Zurick – bass guitar (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024–present)

• Davey von Bohlen – guitar, backing vocals (1993–1995, 2010)

• Nate Kinsella – guitar, backing vocals (2017, 2024–present)

• 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, 1995)

• 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)

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

• 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)

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{{cite web|title=Cap'n Jazz – 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|date=November 9, 1995 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Capn-Jazz-Burritos-Inspiration-Point-Fork-Balloon-Sports-Cards-In-The-Spokes-Automatic-Biographies-K/release/1439446|publisher=Discogs|access-date=13 April 2015}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060324172600/http://www.jadetree.com/bands/artist/cap%27n_jazz Jade Tree Records’ band page]

{{Joan of Arc (band)}}

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Category:American post-hardcore musical groups

Category:Emo musical groups from Illinois

Category:Musical groups from Chicago

Category:Musical groups established in 1989

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995

Category:Jade Tree (record label) artists