Friday-Double Bill: John Donegan Quintet/ReRoute

John Donegan Quintet

Line-up

John Donegan – Piano

Richie Buckley – Saxophone

Bernard O’Neill – Bass

John Daly – Drums

Steve Waterman – trumpet/flugelhorn

John Donegan – Interfuse (Jaydee Records) Released 1st December 2025
Following a successful run of four sextet recordings, Cork-born, HerKordshire-based pianist John
Donegan changes direcLon with a return to the jazz piano trio tradiLon on his latest album,
Interfuse.

“I loved working with the sextet – I sLll 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 JarreW, Chick Corea, and Kenny Barron.

The trio recordings of Bill Evans are parLcular favourites of Donegan’s and they inspired him to
explore the tradiLon 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 enthusiasLcally received
albums. So the trio becomes a quartet on tracks including the energeLc opener, Blues Jive, which
also pays homage to Thelonious Monk with its edgy aWack.

Blues Jive is one of two new composiLons – the other being the hearKelt 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 inspiraLon when taking a different
approach.

The album’s Ltle track, Interfuse, which originally appeared on the sextet album A Kite for Kate,
returns as a quartet piece here and the idiosyncraLc 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 secLon partner.

Alongside the trio and quartet tracks there is a solo piano performance of A Song for Ciara, a tender
dedicaLon 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 interesLng, for me and for the listener. I feel we’ve done that with these nine
tracks and I couldn’t have asked for beWer recording partners than John, Bernard and Richie.”

Interfuse was recorded at Camden Studios, Dublin on 28th and 29th May 2025 and 28th August 2025.

ReRoute

Line-up

Rufina Tishina – vocal

Emily O’Rourke – guitar

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.