| Universal Congress Of | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre: | Punk jazz |
| Years Active: | 1986–present |
| Label: | SST, Enemy, Hazelwood |
| Associated Acts: | Saccharine Trust |
| Current Members: | Joe Baiza Steve Gaeta Paul Lines Steve Moss |
| Past Members: | Jacob Cohn Rick Cox Mike Demers Bob Fitzer A.P. Gonzalez Ralph Gorodetsky Lynn Johnston Jason Kahn Paul Uriaz |
Universal Congress Of are an American jazz ensemble from Los Angeles, formed in 1986.
The project was started by guitarist-vocalist Joe Baiza after his previous group Saccharine Trust went on hiatus. The new ensemble continued to develop the fusion of free jazz and punk rock that Saccharine Trust began to explore. Congress' approach to free jazz has earned them comparisons to Ornette Coleman[1] and James Blood Ulmer,[2] while the group themselves have pointed to Albert Ayler as a primary source of inspiration.[3] The band's name was chosen "to reflect the open-ended nature of its music."[4]
The original line-up consisted of Baiza, Ralph Gorodetsky (bass), Jason Kahn (drums), Steve Moss (saxophone). Moss had played in an earlier incarnation of Saccharine Trust alongside Baiza.
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.[5]