Universal Congress Of


Universal Congress Of are an American jazz ensemble from Los Angeles, formed in 1986.

History

The project was started by Joe Baiza and continued to develop his own fusion of free jazz and punk rock after his previous band, Saccharine Trust, went on hiatus. Congress' approach to free jazz has earned them comparisons to Ornette Coleman and James Blood Ulmer, while the group themselves have pointed to Albert Ayler as a primary source of inspiration. The band's name was chosen "to reflect the open-ended nature of its music."
The original line-up consisted of Baiza, Ralph Gorodetsky, Jason Kahn, Steve Moss. Moss had played in an earlier incarnation of Baiza's previous band, Saccharine Trust.

Legacy

In an issue of Mountain Bike, bassist Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine spoke of his admiration of the band's funky and jazz tinged style.

Discography

;Studio albums
;EPs
;Live albums