John Donegan is a modern jazz pianist and composer, originally from Cork and now based in Britain. His music has been featured on BBC, Jazz FM, RTÉ, and a range of independent radio stations across Britain and Ireland. Over the years, he has performed with a wide range of British, Irish, and international artists, including Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel, Greg Abate, Louis Stewart, and many others.

John draws inspiration from jazz greats such as Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly, Bud Powell, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett. The Jazz Mann describes his music as “...varied, intelligent and unfailingly melodic, and most importantly of all it swings." With The Irish Sextet, John has brought together top-tier musicians from all corners of the island to interpret his original compositions—music rooted in bebop tradition yet shaped by an Irish sensibility for melody.

His debut album, Shadows Linger (2022), was praised by The Jazz Mann for being “...stirring in both its energetic responses to Donegan's original compositions and the sheer panache of the solo extemporisations.” Its follow-up, Light Streams, continued in that vein, lauded for “...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.”

In 2024, John recorded the third installment with The Irish Sextet, We Will Meet Again, Sometime, featuring special guest guitarist Hugh Buckley. The album showcases entirely new material, including a heartfelt tribute to the late Louis Stewart mentor, friend, and towering figure in Irish jazz.