Pianist John Donegan releases the third album by his Irish Sextet, We Will Meet Again, Sometime on Jayde Records on Friday 18th October.
The sextet, whose previous albums have enjoyed enthusiastic receptions on both sides of the Atlantic, is joined on four tracks by guitarist Hugh Buckley, whose contributions include a feature in dedication to Ireland's late guitar master, Louis Stewart.
Family, friends and geographical features have been the inspiration for Donegan’s compositions over a series of recordings featuring various line-ups and these three touchstones emerge again on Donegan’s latest release with his super-talented Irish group.
The family aspect is underscored by the presence of Hugh Buckley who joins his cousins, saxophone-playing siblings Michael and Richie on the album.
Friendship is celebrated by A Ballad for Louis, which Donegan composed following Louis Stewart’s death in 2016 and has been waiting for the right moment to record it.
“Hugh did a lovely job on that track,” says Donegan. "All the guys had their parts in advance of the rehearsals that took place the day before recording, so they all came prepared and Hugh captured A Ballad for Louis in one take.”
The Irish Sextet represents the cream of Irish jazz. Alongside Michael (alto and soprano saxophones and flute) and Richie Buckley (tenor saxophone) in the front line is Linley Hamilton on trumpet and flugelhorn. Bassist Dan Bodwell and drummer John Daly provide, with Donegan, the assured, spring-heeled rhythms that allow the frontline to flourish and excite.
“It’s great to be able to write arrangements that you know the players are going to deliver,” says Donegan. “But it’s also great to know that these guys will bring superbly imaginative improvising and add character to the tunes.”
In a change of format from the Irish Sextet’s previous albums, We Will Meet Again, Sometime features the musicians in a variety of settings. The sextet features on four tracks, including the bossa-styled Little Miss Cleo, written for Donegan’s youngest grandchild, as does the septet with Hugh Buckley guesting. Two quartet pieces, I’m Just Nearby featuring Michael Buckley’s masterly flute playing, and the title track, with Richie Buckley on tenor saxophone. There are also two solo piano pieces, La Vita e Bella, which has strong gospel music influences, and By the Waters of Glencar, the latest in Donegan’s celebrations of Ireland’s musical tradition and locations.
The album title, We Will Meet Again, Sometime, reflects the uncertainty musicians can feel as freelances coming together in bands that by their very nature are not full-time enterprises.
“You want things to continue, of course,” says Donegan. “But you can’t be sure that they will and I wrote that piece to express thanks to all the guys and to say, let’s hope we can do this again because this is a great bunch of musicians and I’m so happy with the character and commitment they bring to the music.”