Zu (Italian hardcore/free jazz band)

Zu is an Italian instrumental band from Rome. While their line-up of baritone sax, bass guitar and drums is typical of a jazz band, their hard-driving sound is indebted to punk rock and according to AllMusic "defies easy categorization". Zu have collaborated with a wide variety of musicians and been described as "masters at adapting to their guests' musical backgrounds". The name of the band, Zu, comes from the Sumerian term zu 𒍪, identifying the "life force of consciousness", the same root of the name of the Neopagan new religious movement of Zuism (Mesopotamian/Middle Eastern Neopaganism). Hailing from Ostia (a town near Rome), Zu are an atypical trio consisting of drums, bass, baritone saxophone and electronics. Formed in Rome in 1997, they began as composers and performers for theater productions. The band is composed of three members: Luca Mai on baritone saxophone, Massimo Pupillo on bass and Paolo Mongardi on drums. Zu have released fourteen albums, including two live albums and two splits. They have played at festivals in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. In 2006, the band toured with the super group Fantômas Melvins Big Band. They have also collaborated with Romeo castellucci and Societas Raffaello Sanzio for Vexilla Regis Prodeunt Inferni zu-e-societas-raffaello-sanzio Zu's music is instrumental and features virtuosic drumming, powerful bass and distorted saxophone. Many of the band's albums are billed as collaborations with a guest musician (such as Mike Patton, Buzz Osborne, Mats Gustafsson and Nobukazu Takemura). Often, a collaborator will join them at live performances as well. Members of the band also collaborate with other musical projects, many of which exist only as live performances. John Zorn described the band as creating "a powerful and expressive music that totally blows away what most bands do these days". In 2009, Carboniferous was voted Album of the Year in Rock-A-Rolla magazine's Best of 2009 poll. Luca T. Mai – baritone saxophone and electronics Massimo Pupillo – bass Paolo Mongardi – drums Gabe Serbian – drums Tomas Järmyr – drums Jacopo Battaglia – drums Eugene Chadbourne – guitar on The Zu Side of the Chadbourne and Motorhellington Jeb Bishop – trombone on Igneo Mats Gustafsson – saxophones on How to Raise an Ox Xabier Iriondo – on Zu / Iceburn Fred Lonberg-Holm – cello on The Way of the Animal Powers Nobukazu Takemura – electronics on Identification with the Enemy – A Key to the Underworld Spaceways inc. – on Radiale Mike Patton – vocals on some live dates and Carboniferous Ken Vandermark – saxophones on Igneo and Radiale Buzz Osborne – on Carboniferous Balázs Pándi – drums on 2011 tour Eugene Robinson – vocals on The Left Hand Path David Tibet – vocals on Mirror Emperor Damo Suzuki – vocals on some live dates Stefano Pilia – cello and guitar on Jhator, cello guitar and production on Mirror Emperor, 2018 /2020 live dates Okapi – electronics on Zu / Dalek / Okapi and on some live dates 1999: Bromio 2000: The Zu Side of the Chadbourne 2001: Motorhellington 2002: Igneo 2003: Live in Helsinki 2004: Radiale 2004: Eccentrics, Issue #1 Hinterlandt / Zu / Can Can Heads 2005: The Way of the Animal Powers 2005: How to Raise an Ox 2005: Zu/Dälek feat Økapi 2006: Rai Sanawachi Koe Wo Hassu 2006: Zu / Iceburn – PhonoMetak 10" Series No. 1 2007: Identification with the Enemy: A Key to the Underworld 2008: Il Teatro degli Orrori/Zu 2008: Zu/Xabier Iriondo/Damo Suzuki – PhonoMetak 10" Series No. 4 2009: Carboniferous 2014: Goodnight Civilization EP 2014: Zu & Eugene Robinson – The Left Hand Path 2015: Cortar Todo 2017: Jhator 2018: ZU93 Mirror Emperor 2019: Terminalia Amazonia 2025: RuinsZu jazzIsDead 2026: Ferrum Sidereum "Carbon" (2009) "Soulympics" (2009) "Orc" (2010) "Goodnight, Civilization" (2014) "Cortar Todo" (2015) "Conflict Acceleration" (2015) "Golgotha" (2025) "A.I. Hive Mind" (2025) Steve Leggett. "Zu | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Jason Lymangrover (9 February 2009). "Carboniferous - Zu | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Diana, Gianluca (3 January 2026). "Zu, la forza vitale della coscienza" [Zu, the Life Force of Consciousness]. Il manifesto (in Italian). "ZU (band)". Zuism.net. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zu (band). Andy Couch. "Ipecac Recordings - Zu". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Zu at AllMusic