If your tastes run to bop and the seeds that, over the years, grew and flourished from it then this album is for you, featuring as it does four of Ireland's greatest jazz musicians.
Nine originals from pianist John Donegan who stands tall alongside any of the current crop of jazz pianists. Not just in Dublin but in any of the jazz capitals of the world be it London, Paris, Copenhagen or New York. With a stellar rhythm section of O'Neill and Daly and sax virtuoso Buckley, brother of another Irish sax legend Michael Buckley, the quartet gel as only a band playing from the same lead sheet can.
Blues Jive: What better way to start than with an uptempo twelve bar? You tell me! Buckley goes for broke taking no prisoners. Donegan follows suit, bass and drums too have their say. An explosive round of fours bring the track to a close.
Interfuse: A slower number. If it had words we'd call it a ballad. It's rather beautiful, the emotion simply oozes out. I'm informed by Ian Mann in his excellent liner notes that it's a modal theme. As I'm currently studying Lydian and Dorian scales as used on Miles' A Kind of Blue this track is another step on my modal journey.
Funny Isn't it!: Donegan plays this one as a trio number, the pianist stretching out whilst Buckley, rather ominously takes five. It's quite a quirky piece hence the title.
Five to One: Donegan's inspiration here is to imagine a conversation between five of Ireland's literary giants: -Wilde; Shaw; Yeats; Joyce and Beckett. It's also played in 5/4 to add more authenticity to the title. There's impressive solos by Buckley and Donegan with Daly stirring the ingredients á la Joe Morello.
A Song For Clara: A solo piano piece by Donegan dedicated to his eldest daughter. It's a lyrical, and emotional portrait that begs for words poetical. Nevertheless, there's musical poetry within that matches anything words could add.
Rumba De Ciudad: A catchy Latin theme by the trio that could have been composed down in Rio at carnival time. A powerful bass solo by O'Neill complements Donegan's own solo with Daly's beat in keeping with the indigenous South American rhythm.
Sonorial: Another feature for the trio. Sonorial, according to good old Google (where would we be without their vast knowledge?) means "a sophisticated and high-quality sound experience" They certainly got this one right, it is all that and more.
A Resolute Rose: Keeping it in the family - Rose being Donegan's youngest granddaughter - it's a delightful duet by piano and soprano sax that simply oozes emotion.
A Kite For Kate: I'm guessing, going by the title, that this trio track is inspired by Kate Bush although, apart from the hypnotic rhythm, I am struggling to make the connection. Daly has an early blast, Donegan dazzles and O'Neill is in there up to his neck, or rather the neck of the bass' fingerboard.
Another diamond from the Emerald Isle. Lance
Interfuse is released on Dec. 1 and there's an album launch on Dec. 5 at the Jazz Café Polsk in Hammersmith.
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