The Modern Jazz Disciples, not to be confused with Modern Jazz Quartet, were a notable but short-lived hard-bop group that was active in late ’50s through early ’60s. Curtis Peagler, an alto and tenor saxophonist, was the leader of The Disciples. He died in Beverly Hills, CA, on December 19, 1992. In 1958, Peagler formed the group in Cincinnati, OH. He was joined by pianist William Brown (born December 10, 1934 in Harlen, KY), bassist Lee Tucker, (born December 19, 1933 in Cincinnati, OH), as well as drummer Ron McCurdy (born in Belfast, Ireland, March 19, 1933). William “Hicky” Kelley, who was born March 12, 1929 in Cincinnati, OH, was the fourth member. He was employed on two instruments that are not often heard in jazz: The euphonium (a rare type of valve trombone that resembled an alto sax) and the normaphone (a lesser-known, less-known type). McCurdy was an Irish immigrant from Belfast who had arrived in the U.S. in 1951. He met the other disciples while he was studying at the University of Cincinnati in late ’50s. The Disciples were playing around Cincinnati and attracted the attention of Eddie “Lockjaw”, a visiting tenor sax player who was in New York, but was there to perform at Babe Baker’s Jazz Corner. Davis was impressed with what he heard, and encouraged the Disciples recording a demo tape to send to Prestige Records, which he was also recording at the time. Prestige Records signed the quintet on to its New Jazz label after hearing the demo. The Disciples recorded their debut album in Rudy Van Gelder’s New Jersey studio in September 1959. McCurdy quit the group following the release of that album and Wilbur “Slim”, Jackson was appointed the Disciples’ drummer. The new line-up was in place and the quintet recorded Right Down Front, their second New Jazz album, at Van Gelder’s studio, in May 1960. If the Disciples had stayed together for longer, they might have been as well-known and respected as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Jazz Crusaders. The group ended up disbanding in 1961, and they never recorded another album. Peagler moved to Los Angeles from Cincinnati in 1962. He was employed by major artists such as Ray Charles and Count Basie. Nine years after Peagler died from heart disease, Fantasy released the Messengers’ two New Jazz records back to back on a 76 minute CD called Disciples Blues. Allmusic
