Curtis Alan Jones studied chemical engineering at the university of illinois, left graduate school in 1991 and went back to chicago to make records instead. he has used two names ever since. Cajmere, from 1991, for traditional chicago house, vocal led and soulful. Green Velvet, from the middle of that decade, for the darker, acid and techno leaning side with the deadpan spoken vocals.

he put it plainly to the quietus in 2012: house is more about the vocals and songs, techno is more instrumental and a bit darker, and house is really about dancing.

as cajmere the breakthrough was Coffee Pot (It's Time for the Percolator) in 1992, and Brighter Days with dajae was the hit that paid for the label. he founded Cajual Records in 1992 and Relief Records in 1993 as the experimental outlet, and beatport's artist page still lists him as relief's owner.

as green velvet the two that lasted are Flash, out on relief in 1995 and placed at number sixty one on rolling stone's two hundred greatest dance songs, and La La Land, from november 2001, which is now a party series with its own name on festival bills. beyoncé's Cozy on renaissance samples a record he wrote.

I feel it's my duty to continue to make creative and innovative tracks as well as musical events. I love shining the light on new upcoming and emerging artists as well as giving the originators their proper dues.

curtis jones to the recording academy, 17 april 2024

which is more or less what the last two years look like. Butterflies with jamie jones on helix in february 2025, When It Kicks with Layton Giordani on madminds that september, a new La La Land built with MEDUZA on broke in may 2026, and Bounce UR Body with detlef on Cloonee's hellbent in june. four of those names are elsewhere on this page.

he plays arc in chicago on 4 september, back to back with Josh Baker, nocturnal wonderland at glen helen on 19 september, and suwannee hulaween in october with a la la land takeover of his own.