The ‘with special guest Richie Buckley’ subtitle confirms that Irish pianist John Donegan was pleasantly diverted from this album’s initial purpose. Following an enthusiastically received run of releases with his two sextets (one London-based, the other representing all corners of Ireland), Donegan decided to revisit his first inspiration, the piano trio. While recording with his Irish sextet, which includes Buckley, Donegan was drawn to continuing the musical conversations he and the saxophonist had enjoyed. Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk and Keith Jarrett’s trios are among Donegan’s influences, and you can hear those heroes in the music he’s created here with Buckley. 

So, the opening ‘Blues Jive’, with its Monk-ish edge and appealing descending progression, is the first of a notably rewarding series of three quartet pieces that showcase Buckley’s wonderful fluency and superb solo building on tenor saxophone. There’s also a soprano saxophone and piano duet, ‘A Resolute Rose’, that points to the qualities Donegan admires in Buckley’s more lyrical side. Donegan’s granddaughter, who survived a serious illness in infancy, is the Rose of the title and the two musicians pay soulful, deeply felt tribute to her.

Elsewhere the mood is buoyant. Donegan, bassist Bernard O’Neill and drummer John Daly swing ‘A Kite For Kate’ in joyful uptempo waltz time. ‘Rumba De Ciudad’ features the trio in Cuban dance mode and Donegan in the same effusive, expansive form that he brings to the lovely solo piano interlude, ‘Song For Ciara’.

Interfuse is released by Jayde Records on Friday 5 December; the album is launched at Jazz Cafe Posk, London on Friday 5 December.