John Donegan, UK based and originally from Cork, is a modern jazz pianist and composer. His music has been featured on the BBC, Jazz FM, RTE and independent radio stations in UK and Ireland. He has performed with a variety of UK, Irish and International artists, including Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel and Greg Abate, Louis Stewart and many more.
John’s major influences have been the likes of Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly, Bud Powell, Chic Corea and Keith Jarrett. The Jazz Mann describes his music as, “...varied, intelligent and unfailingly melodic, and most importantly of all it swings."
With the Irish Sextet John has drawn together a group of stellar musicians from across the four corners of the island to explore his original compositions in a soundworld with vintage bebop DNA and an Irish ear for melody.
Their debut album Shadows Linger in 2022 was described by the Jazz Mann as “...stirring in both its energetic responses to Donegan's original compositions and the sheer panache of the solo extemporisations.” The follow-up album Light Streams, was praised for “...themes that have real melodic value, each soloist, himself included, given pathways to follow which allow freedom to wander even if the way ahead is always clear.”
In 2024, John recorded the third album in this series with The Irish Sextet – We Will Meet Again, Sometime – featuring special guest Hugh Buckley on guitar. The album ventures through wholly new material, including a tribute to the late Louis Stewart, mentor and friend.
We’re delighted to welcome the Irish Sextet to The Cooler for an intimate performance of We Will Meet Again, Sometime.The sextet features the cream of Ireland’s stalwart jazzers, with Linley Hamilton on trumpet/flugel, Michael Buckley on alto sax/flute, Richie Buckley on tenor sax, John Donegan on piano, Dan Bodwell on bass, and John Daly on drums, together with special guest Hugh Buckley on guitar.
Personnel:
John Donegan - Piano
Linley Hamilton - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Richie Buckley - Tenor /Soprano Sax
Cathal Roche - Alto /Soprano Sax
Dan Bodwell - Bass
John Daly - Drums
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