Universal Congress Of

Led by Saccharine Trust axewielder Joe Baiza, Universal Congress Of began as the title for Baiza's 1987 solo record, later becoming the name of his fine, funky backing band. On his debut solo LP, he was still playing semi-improvised, avant-garde jazz-rock similar to what he had been exploring in Saccharine Trust, but Baiza/UCO's later work was more structured and song-oriented. With Baiza on guitar and Steve Moss on sax, along with excellent bass/drum combinations like Bob Fitzer and Paul Lines or Steve Gaeta and A. P. Gonzalez, UCO played rockish jazz/jazzish rock not unlike that of James Blood Ulmer and Ornette Coleman. Their earlier work on SST had a bit more of a punk edge, while the later albums on Enemy were more solidly jazz.