John Donegan – Interfuse (Jaydee Records) Released 1st December 2025
Following a successful run of four sextet recordings, Cork-born, Her ordshire-based pianist John Donegan changes direc on with a return to the jazz piano trio tradi on on his latest album, Interfuse.
“I loved working with the sextet – I s ll do – but I wanted to shake things up a bit and revisit the trio format,” says Donegan whose piano influences include Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Hampton Hawes, Bud Powell, Keith Jarre , Chick Corea, and Kenny Barron.
The trio recordings of Bill Evans are par cular favourites of Donegan’s and they inspired him to explore the tradi on again. He had also been struck by saxophonist Richie Buckley’s lyrical side and improvising strengths while leading the Irish Sextet that has made three enthusias cally received albums.
So the trio becomes a quartet on tracks including the energe c opener, Blues Jive, which also pays homage to Thelonious Monk with its edgy a ack.
Blues Jive is one of two new composi ons – the other being the hear elt ballad A Resolute Rose dedicated to Donegan’s young grand-daughter – on the album. A prolific composer, Donegan also likes to reinterpret previous work, finding new meaning and new inspira on when taking a different approach. The album’s tle track, Interfuse, which originally appeared on the sextet album A Kite for Kate, returns as a quartet piece here and the idiosyncra c Funny Isn’t It, which Donegan first recorded as a solo piano piece, is updated in the trio format.
Donegan is joined in the trio by two longstanding colleagues. Drummer John Daly has provided the swing, drive and detail on Donegan’s three Irish Sextet albums and bassist Bernard O’Neill, who has acted as producer on eight of Donegan’s nine previous albums, takes up a dual role as producer and Daly’s rhythm sec on partner. Alongside the trio and quartet tracks there is a solo piano performance of A Song for Ciara, a tender
dedica on to Donegan’s eldest daughter which first appeared on the pianist’s 1997 album of the same name.
A musician of huge experience – he has played with jazz luminaries Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel and Greg Abate as well as the world class Irish guitarist Louis Stewart – Donegan is constantly driven by the desire to explore music, both his own and other musicians’.
“I love to listen almost as much as I love to play,” he says. “Above all, though, what I want to do is keep my own music interes ng, for me and for the listener. I feel we’ve done that with these nine tracks and I couldn’t have asked for be er recording partners than John, Bernard and Richie.”
ReRoute is a Kildare-based music duo, featuring vocalist Rufina Tishina and guitarist
Emily O’Rourke. As alumni of the DCU’s BA Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance, they draw on a deep appreciation for jazz’s improvisational spirit, blending it seamlessly with heartfelt songwriting. Known for their lyrical honesty and jazz-influenced compositions, their work combines personal introspection with universal resonance.
Blending elements of multiple genres, ReRoute’s music offers a unique sound that’s both reflective and resonant. Their debut EP, “Can You Speak to Me?” showcased their distinctive ability to connect deeply through music. The intimate and vulnerable set-up of one voice and one guitar, allows them invite audiences to not only hear and share their music, but to contribute their voices and become part of the improvisations.
For this performance at Limerick Jazz, you can expect to hear songs from their debut EP, as well as new original standards, never yet performed. Be sure to catch ReRoute on September 25th, in Dolan’s as part of the Limerick Jazz Festival
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