The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards are a United States jazz group active from 1978 to 1998. They are formed in 1978 by saxophone player John Lurie and begin as a tongue-in-cheek “fake jazz” outfit, drawing on punk rock and no wave as much as jazz. Their sound later develops into a distinctive form of avant-garde jazz that also falls within jazz fusion and no wave.

Line-up

Members include John Lurie, Evan Lurie, Anton Fier, Arto Lindsay, Michele Navazio, Marc Ribot and Erik Sanko. Former members also include Steven Bernstein, Tony Scherr, Oren Bloedow, John Medeski and Jane Scarpantoni.

Style

The group combines jazz with punk-influenced energy and experimental approaches, and is known for a creative, distinctive sound. They are not related to the country satire group the Austin Lounge Lizards.