john donegan

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THE ARTIST

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 the UK, Ireland and the US.

He has performed with a variety of UK, Irish and International artists, including Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel, Greg Abate, Arnie Lawrence, Louis Stewart, Jeff Clyne, 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. He has performed in UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal and at Birdland in New York.

In 2018 John recorded his suite of 21 contemporary pieces, as 2 CD’s – Siamsa Vol 1 & 2. Reviewed in the Musicians Union Magazine – “An intriguing combination of classic bebop laced with Irish Folk melody. This album from pianist John and his Saxophonist friend, Tommaso Starace is full of sublime lyrical moments."

He released his first Sextet album in Aug 2019 – A Kite For Kate – dedicated to his youngest daughter. It comprises of totally original pieces and has already been featured on RTE. BBC, and many independent radio stations, in Europe and the US. ‘The Jazz Mann’ gave it a four star review – “an impressive offering from Donegan in which he demonstrates his command of a variety of styles, as both pianist and composer. As a writer he also demonstrates an unfailing gift for melody.”

During Lockdown, John wrote and arranged more than two dozen new pieces, which were released as two new albums. The first of these was recorded in 2022 with the Irish Sextet and released under the title of Shadows Linger. Ian Patterson wrote in ‘All About Jazz” - “Donegan and his sextet members do not set out to reinvent the wheel with Shadows Linger, which is just as well, because in sticking to what they know and love, they have delivered a memorable straight ahead album of vintage calibre.”

Shadows Linger also received a four star review from Peter Vacher for Jazzwise magazine. ‘This is his Irish Band, drawn from all four corners of Ireland and quite stirring in both its energetic responses and the sheer panache of the solo extemporisations. His compositional flair is well demonstrated and his pianism intriguing yet poised. More please!”

The second of these albums, Light Streams, recorded in April 2023, with the same group was released in October 2023, to much acclaim. It received a four star review in Jazzwise Magazine – “We reviewed the Irish pianist-composer John Donegan’s earlier release in Jazzwise 286 and gave it a well-earned four stars and hope to hear more. Donegan has obliged with this very welcome follow-up featuring the same star personnel.....Donegan knows how to create 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. Ten pieces, all by him, and brilliantly performed. Not to be missed.”

Four Stars review from The Jazz Mann – “His writing is varied, intelligent and unfailingly melodic, and most importantly of all, it swings!”

Bebop Spoken Here wrote, “Donegan has created a distinctive voice that is neither totally Irish, nor English or American. It’s all and none - it’s his. Highly recommended.

In 2024 he recorded the third album in this series with The Irish Sextet, We Will Meet Again Sometime - this time featuring, special guest, Hugh Buckley, on guitar.Again the album comprises of all new material including a tribute to the late Louis Stewart, mentor and friend. This album was released in November 2024 and received many 4 star reviews plus, Editor’s pick, in Jazzwise Magazine and included in their list of best albums of 2025.

John has just completed a new suite of works under the title of “Aontacht” (Irish for Unity). This follows on the tradition of the previous Siamsa suite and reflects the influence of Jazz, Classical and Traditional Irish music, on his compositional work. The music is written for Sextet (Jazz), solo violinist, double string quartet and voice.The plan is to record this in 2026/2027 and ultimately tour it throughout Ireland, UK and Europe.

Other projects include the continuing development of jazz arrangements of Chopin and John Field pieces, which have been performed at Chopin Festivals at the Café Posk in London in 2022 and 2024 and in various other venues. He has also written his own Nocturnes. And these have been arranged and added to the programme.

John also written a Suite to commemorate all those who lost their lives in the pandemic, and this is called The Elegy Suite. Plans include recording and performing this in the near future.

John most recent album, entitled Interfuse, explores a new direction. It is recorded with a Trio, in the company of Bernard O’Neill (Bass) and John Daly (Drums) and with Special guest. Richie Buckley on saxophone. This will be released on 1st Dec. 2025, and launched at the jazz Café Posk, in London on 5th Dec. 2025.