Universal Congress Of is an American punk-jazz ensemble from Los Angeles, formed in 1986 by guitarist and vocalist Joe Baiza. The group developed a distinctive fusion of free jazz and punk rock, building on ideas Baiza had explored with Saccharine Trust. The band's music drew inspiration from free-jazz figures such as Albert Ayler, while their style has been compared to the work of Ornette Coleman and James Blood Ulmer. The original lineup included Baiza, Ralph Gorodetsky on bass, Jason Kahn on drums, and Steve Moss on saxophone. They released several albums through the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Joe Baiza & The Universal Congress Of (1987), Prosperous and Qualified (1988), The Sad and Tragic Demise of Big Fine Hot Salty Black Wind (1991), and The Eleventh-Hour Shine-On (1992).
