Green Velvet

Green Velvet is the recording name of Chicago-born musician and DJ Curtis A. Jones, active from the early 1990s in house, techno and related electronic styles. He also works under the Cajmere name, which he uses for much of his earlier output and for DJ work, while Green Velvet is associated with his more theatrical performance persona and vocal tracks.

Early work and labels

Jones begins making music as a student, first experimenting with a low-cost keyboard, four-track recorder and drum machine while at the University of Illinois. He later leaves a postgraduate chemical engineering course at Berkeley. In 1992, he gains attention with “Coffee Pot” (also known as “It’s Time for the Percolator”) on Clubhouse Records, and follows it with work such as Lidell Townsell’s “Get With U” on Mercury Records. He then forms Cajual Records to have greater control over his Chicago-rooted sound, and later creates Relief Records as a sub-label focused largely on instrumental releases by himself and other artists.

Green Velvet releases

The first Green Velvet production is “Velvet Tracks”. Under the Green Velvet name, Jones releases a string of mid-1990s tracks that become closely associated with his image and style, including “Preacher Man”, “Answering Machine” and “Flash”. These records help establish his distinctive blend of house, techno, funk and sharply written lyrics.

Collaborations and later work

His collaboration with Dajae produces “Brighter Days”, which reaches number two on the Billboard Dance Chart and becomes an international dance hit. In 2009, he records “Everybody Wants” with Kid Sister, another Chicago artist, and follows it with “Turn It UP” with Santiago & Bushido. He also continues to perform as both a DJ and a live act, presenting original tracks on stage rather than only standard club sets.

Performance and activity

Jones performs house and techno internationally under both Cajmere and Green Velvet. Festival appearances mentioned include Exit Festival in Serbia, Awakenings Festival in the Netherlands and T in the Park in Scotland. He also launches a Chicago residency called “Green Velvet & Friends” at Cajual Records. His release activity is associated with labels including Clubhouse Records, Mercury Records, Cajual Records, Relief Records and Curtis A. Jones Music.