Events

This events calendar includes Earl’s upcoming performances, compositional debuts, recordings and educational activities. On mobile devices this calendar is best viewed horizontally.

Event Information

Upcoming | Archive: 2025 2024 2023
  • Thu
    09
    Jan
    2025

    Joel Rosenblatt Trio

    6 - 8 PM

    Private, Corporate Event. Westerly, RI

    with Joel Rosenblatt – drums, Dave Edwards – bass

  • Tue
    28
    Jan
    2025
    Wed
    29
    Jan
    2025

    Myra Jazz Festival

    Red River High School Performance Hall,
    Grand Forks, North Dakota

    The Myra Jazz Festival has been running continuously for over 30 years. It is a two-day festival for middle school and high school jazz bands in the upper Red River Valley. In addition to adjudicating and presenting clinic sessions, Earl will perform as a featured guest artist with the Myra Big Band. The festival is free and open to the public on both days.

  • Sun
    02
    Feb
    2025

    Chris Beaudry Quintet

    3:00 PM

    Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103

    Baby Grand Jazz Series Logo

    Chris Beaudry – tenor sax,
    Haneef Nelson – trumpet, 
    Earl MacDonald – piano,
    Tyler Sherman – string bass,
    Jesse Hameen II – drum set

  • Fri
    07
    Feb
    2025

    UConn High School Jazz Festival

    8 AM - 7:30 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, 875 Coventry Rd, Storrs, CT
    [directions and parking]

    The annual UConn Jazz Festival is a non-competitive and educationally-rewarding experience that provides a forum for mutual support of each ensemble’s efforts while enhancing skills in the jazz idiom. Highlights of the festival include:

    • a twenty-minute performance time for each ensemble,
    • a twenty-minute personalized clinic by a UConn Jazz faculty member,
    • beginning, intermediate, and advanced level improvisation master classes, and
    • a mini-concert by the UConn Jazz Ensemble and UConn Jazz faculty.
  • Sun
    09
    Mar
    2025

    Scott Sasanecki Quartet

    12 noon - 3pm

    Scott Sasanecki – guitar, Earl MacDonald – keyboard, Fumi Tomita – string bass, Ben Bilello – drums

    Dewey’s Jazz Lounge, 232 Worthington St, Springfield, MA 01103
    (413) 301-8337

  • Sat
    15
    Mar
    2025

    2025 Clark Terry UNH Jazz Festival - Adjudicator

    7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

    University of New Hampshire, College of Liberal Arts, Department of Music, Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way Durham, NH 03824-2617


    Earl will serve as an adjudicator at the 2025 Clark Terry UNH Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 15th, 2025. He will provide written and verbal comments and post performance clinics for participating ensembles.

  • Thu
    27
    Mar
    2025

    UConn Jazz Faculty at Black Eyed Sally's

    8 - 10 PM

    The logo for Black-eyed Sally's, a restaurant and music venue in Hartford, CT

    Black-Eyed Sally's. 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 860-278-7427.

    Join the UConn Faculty Jazz Group for an evening of swinging jazz, presented with support from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Hartford Jazz Society, and series curator Haneef Nelson.

    Featuring: Luke Wingfield (trumpet), Evan Gray (trombone), Michael Farina (saxophones, subbing for John Mastroianni), Scott Sasanecki (guitar), Earl MacDonald (piano), Steve Bulmer (bass), Sarah DiMiceli (drums, subbing for Jonathan Barber), and vocalists Leala Cyr and Rod Nelman.

    Don’t miss this special night of live jazz!

  • Fri
    28
    Mar
    2025
    Sat
    29
    Mar
    2025

    Guest Artist: Holyoke Community College Jazz Festival

    Holyoke Community College
    Leslie Phillips Theater at HCC’s Fine & Performing Arts Building
    303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke, Massachusetts

    Earl MacDonald with the Amherst Jazz Orchestra
    Friday, March 28 | 8:00 PM

    Pianist, composer, and arranger Earl MacDonald joins the Amherst Jazz Orchestra as the featured guest artist for an evening of big band jazz. Directed by trombonist and music professor Dave Sporny, the AJO takes the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 28th, in the Leslie Phillips Theater at HCC’s Fine & Performing Arts Building. The concert is free for HCC students, faculty, and staff, and $10 for the general public.

    Jazz Clinics with Earl MacDonald
    Saturday, March 29 | 9:00 AM

    Jazz clinics for high school and college music students, led by Earl MacDonald. Topics include improvisation, ensemble playing, and jazz interpretation.

  • Sun
    30
    Mar
    2025

    Steven Bulmer Trio - Jazz Brunch

    11 AM - 2:30 PM

    Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103

    Tickets include museum admission, brunch, and one complimentary bloody mary or mimosa.
    There are two seatings, one at 10:30am & one at 12:30pm. 
    $39; $29 members. Tickets must be purchased online, in advance.

    Steven Bulmer - string bass, Scott Sasanecki - guitar, Earl MacDonald - piano

  • Sun
    13
    Apr
    2025

    UConn Jazz Lab Band

    3:00 - 4:30 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    Earl MacDonald, director

  • Thu
    17
    Apr
    2025
    Fri
    18
    Apr
    2025

    Michael Abene Residency at UConn

    University of Connecticut Music Department

    Thursday:

    • 2:00-3:45 PM: Jazz Ensemble rehearsal

    Friday:

    • 10:00–11:00 AM: Meeting with jazz arranging students
    • 1:25–2:15 PM: Presentation at Music Convocation for music students
  • Fri
    18
    Apr
    2025

    The River Room: Ribbon-Cutting & Open House Celebration!

    6:45 - 8PM

    The River Room, 50 Riverside Drive, Willimantic, CT, 06226

    Trio with Michael Farina – tenor sax, Fumi Tomita – string bass, Earl MacDonald – piano

    Ribbon Cutting and Open House - the River Room

  • Tue
    22
    Apr
    2025

    UConn Jazz Combos

    8 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    Steven Bulmer, director

  • Fri
    25
    Apr
    2025
    Sun
    27
    Apr
    2025

    58th NAfME Eastern Division In-Service Conference

    Hartford Convention Center

    UConn Jazz Ensemble performance. Time TBA
    April 26, 9 – 10AM: Jazz Pedagogy Round Table

  • Sun
    27
    Apr
    2025

    UConn Jazz Ensemble Concert, featuring arranger Michael Abene

    6 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    John Mastroianni, director

  • Wed
    30
    Apr
    2025

    College Showcase at Black Eyed Sally's

    7 - 10 PM

    The logo for Black-eyed Sally's, a restaurant and music venue in Hartford, CT

    Black-Eyed Sally's. 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 860-278-7427.

    Student ensembles from four outstanding programs—UConn, Hartt, WCSU, and UMass—take the stage for an evening of high-energy, half-hour sets. The night wraps with an open jam session, where students from all schools join forces in an exciting, spontaneous musical collaboration. Experience the next generation of jazz at the annual College Showcase!

  • Fri
    02
    May
    2025

    Sean Nelson & the New London Big Band: Album Release Concert

    8 - 10:30PM

    The Side Door Jazz Club

    The Side Door Jazz Club | 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 | tel: 860.434.2600

    Celebrate the New London Big Band’s release of their album: Don’t Stop Now: The Lost Music of Thad Jones!
    All Ages. From $27.98
    Purchase tickets

  • Mon
    05
    May
    2025

    UConn Jazz Clinics & Sectionals at Hall High School

    7 - 8 PM

    Hall High School, West Hartford 

    UConn Jazz faculty coach Hall High School jazz students in sectionals.

  • Sun
    11
    May
    2025

    Steven Bulmer Trio - Mother's Day Jazz Brunch

    11 AM - 2:30 PM

    Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103

    Tickets include museum admission, brunch, and one complimentary bloody mary or mimosa.
    There are two seatings, one at 10:30am & one at 12:30pm. 
    $39; $29 members. Tickets must be purchased online, in advance.

    Steven Bulmer - string bass, Scott Sasanecki - guitar, Earl MacDonald - piano

  • Mon
    14
    Jul
    2025
    Fri
    18
    Jul
    2025

    Jazz In July Summer Music Program

    Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst


    Jazz In JulyJazz in July is a multi-generational jazz improvisation program with an impressive 40+ year history. It is a concentrated two-week program where both vocal and instrumental musicians study jazz improvisation with some of the nation’s best jazz educators and artists.

    The 2-week in-person program will run July 14-25, 2025. Earl will teach during the first week: July 14-18.

  • Fri
    25
    Jul
    2025

    Jazz in July All-Stars Concert

    6 - 9PM

    Amherst Town Common, Amherst, Massachusetts

    Jazz In JulyThe Jazz-in-July All-Stars Concert is a round-robin style concert featuring collaborations between the nationally and internationally known Jazz in July faculty members.

     

     
    Although subject to change, the anticipated roster of performers includes:
     
    Vocals: Sheila Jordan, Dominique Eade
    Brass: Jeff Holmes, Haneef Nelson
    Saxophone: Bruce Diehl, Felipe Salles, Frank Newton
    Piano: Earl MacDonald, Lee Tomboulian, Stephen Page
    Bass: Fumi Tomita, Avery Sharpe, Genevieve Rose
    Guitar: Bob Ferrier
    Drums: Steve Johns, Winard Harper, Greg Caputo

    This concert is presented in cooperation with the Amherst Business Improvement District as part of their summer concert series.

  • Sun
    19
    Oct
    2025

    UConn Jazz Combos

    3 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    Steven Bulmer, director

  • Sun
    09
    Nov
    2025

    UConn Jazz Lab Band

    3:00 - 4:30 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    Earl MacDonald, director

  • Sun
    16
    Nov
    2025

    UConn Jazz Ensemble

    6 PM

    von der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT

    von der Mehren Recital Hall logoGeneral admission is $10.
    Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.

    John Mastroianni, director

 

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