Devoted to cool jazz, the Disciples perform a lighter, more romantic style of jazz than Be-Bop. The group takes a relaxed approach to rhythm similar to musicians like Miles Davis, whose recordings Birth of the Cool and Kind of Blue in the late 1950s became among the most popular jazz albums ever produced.

Mike Caruk began his jazz experience studying at the Hartford Conservatory in Connecticut as an electric bass player for Latin jazz ensembles. He then joined a local budding group called “Latin Flavor” and performed at local festivals and venues including the Hartford Jazz Festival. He studied trumpet privately at the University of Connecticut under the direction of trumpeter and educator Daniel Patrylak. He studied classical trumpet and participated in the UConn Jazz Ensemble and the UConn Symphonic Band. He currently continues his studies through improvisation workshops with the esteemed jazz trombonist, Dr. Ed Byrne. Mike also plays with Ed Byrne and Eastern Standard Time as well as the Rob DeSesa Quartet.

Christopher Bakriges, pianist and composer. A Detroit native, Bakriges has lead his own groups since the early 80s. His first ensemble in Detroit included the noted rhythm section of Tani Tabbal and Jaribu Shahid. He has performed internationally since 1990, including tours in India, Pakistan, Turkey, England, France, Canada, and the Czech Republic. In the early 90s he was invited to become music director of Jazzfest on Northeast Public Radio after its station director heard his ensembl! e, Critical Theory, in concert with Bobby McFerrin and David Darling. Broadcast monthly from the WAMC-FM Studios in Albany, New York, Jazz Fest became the only live jazz radio program being aired at that time in the United States. Besides performing his compositions, Bakriges was able to accompany many acclaimed artists such as Kenny Burrell, Bernard Purdie, Lee Shaw, and Pat Metheny's original rhythm section of Danny Gottleib and Mark Egan. Bakriges has been music director and pianist at the Mo’ Jazz Cafe, Vermont’s only jazz club, since the late 90s. A published scholar, Bakriges earned his doctorate in ethnomusicology from York University in Toronto and regularly lecturers around the world. His background in world music as well as his own Greek cultural heritage lends a decidedly Mediterranean flavor to his work. His singular approach to composition and performance have been influenced from study with artists who embrace the entire scope of African American and jazz history, including Jaki Bayard, Nadi Qamar, Harold Danko, Billy Taylor, Frederick Simmons, and Anthony Braxton. Bakriges has also worked with Indian classical masters Pandit Sushil Mukherjee and Tanjore Vishwanathan as well as with Indonesian gamelan composer Sumarsam.

Denny Ray Pelletier, drums, developed strong roots in jazz early on, and his American Indian background and spiritually-centered approach to rhythm help to forge the musical identity of the group. The son of a jazz trumpeter, Pelletier began performing as a drummer in many local social events, dances, and talent shows. He studied with Les Harris Sr., then head of percussion at Boston’s Berklee School of Music, which led to freelance opportunities on the Boston circuit. Years of experience have found Pelletier in a wide variety of musical situations, performing with J.J. Johnson, Ronnie Laws, Michael Omartian, and Anthony Cox. He also has backed Cleo Laine, Peggy Lee, Bonnie Raitt, and Linda Ronstadt with orchestras for musical theatre performances. Pelletier’s recording credits include dozens of radio and national albums, and several children’s television shows including “Zoom” and “Sesame Street.”

Bassist Mark Dunlap first studied guitar and switched to electric and then double bass. Dunlap studies composition with Grammy Award nominated composer, and long-time mentor, Ed Byrne, DMA. Dunlap also studies bass with accomplished NYC bassists, Santi DeBriano and Joe Fonda. Dunlap is a founding member and serves on the board of the Western New England Double Bass Society, a group of almost 200 performing double bassists that sponsors bass workshops and concerts throughout New England. He also serves as the Chair of the Holyoke Cultural Council. Dunlap manages every aspect of creating, performing, recording and promoting his own sound through his independent recording label and publishing company "Simmer Music.” He performs regularly in clubs and festivals in the Northeast USA & Germany with numerous bands.