A Bold Fusion of Social Conscience, Jazz, and Artful Classical Nuance
A decade ago, Hartford Courant jazz columnist Owen McNally described Earl MacDonald as “a magical, musical alchemist of hip hybrids”—a phrase that still captures the essence of MacDonald’s boundary-pushing style. His latest project, the Black Square Ensemble, seamlessly blends jazz harmonies with the nuanced phrasing and articulations of Western art music. Drawing on classical traditions, global styles, and contemporary chamber practices, MacDonald crafts music that seeks not only to innovate artistically, but to provoke thought, foster empathy, and inspire social awareness. As Nina Simone once said, “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” This guiding principle underscores the work of the Black Square Ensemble. The result? Music that feels alive, honest, deeply intentional, and beautifully crafted.
Inspired by Radical Art and Social Change
The ensemble’s name pays homage to Kazimir Malevich’s 1915 painting, Black Square—a stark, revolutionary work that shattered convention and embraced abstraction.
Like its namesake, the ensemble challenges expectations—breaking away from stylistic boundaries in favor of an expressive language rooted in innovation, abstraction, and purposeful artistry. MacDonald’s compositions don’t simply borrow from jazz and classical—they weave them together like strands of a tapestry, creating a soundscape that is intricate yet effortlessly fluid.
Meet the Musicians
Earl MacDonald, piano/composition
Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut. His accolades include a 2022 Covenant Award from GMA Canada, the Connecticut Office of the Arts’ 2020 Artistic Excellence Award, the Sammy Nestico Award for big band arranging, and two JUNO nominations for jazz album of the year. As a composer and pianist, MacDonald’s work bridges jazz and classical traditions, providing the harmonic foundation and rhythmic flexibility that propel the ensemble’s fluid, genre-defying sound.
Rod Nelman, bass-baritone
A powerful performer praised as a “superb singer-actor” (The Washington Times), Nelman has graced stages with the Metropolitan Opera, New World Symphony, Washington National Opera, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Arena di Verona. His rich, commanding voice adds weight and dramatic intensity to the ensemble’s sonic palette, anchoring each piece with emotional gravitas and storytelling depth.
Amanda Gookin, cello
A bold cultural activist and founding member of the Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet, Gookin is known for her fearless artistry and feminist advocacy. Through the Forward Music Project, she continues to champion equity in the arts and push creative boundaries. Her cello playing acts as both a melodic and harmonic force—shifting effortlessly between lush lyricism and percussive urgency—adding expressive nuance and evocative textures to the ensemble’s sound.
Rogério Boccato, percussion
Featured on multiple Grammy-winning and nominated albums, Boccato has collaborated with jazz greats like Maria Schneider and Danilo Perez, as well as Brazilian legends including Hermeto Pascoal. His expertise in Brazilian rhythm is sought after at institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music and NYU. Within the ensemble, his intricate layering of rhythmic colors creates a sense of movement and spontaneity, shaping a musical dialogue that is both exploratory and deeply grounded.
With its nuanced improvisational approach and dynamic interplay, the ensemble creates an experience that is fresh, innovative, and deeply moving.
(Centered around a core quartet of bass-baritone voice, piano, cello, and percussion, the ensemble occasionally broadens its palette with guest artists. On the upcoming album and in select live performances, additions like alto flute, string quartet, muted brass, string bass, and electronics will bring layered textures and dynamic interplay.)
Social Consciousness at the Core
Through powerful settings of contemporary poetry, the group tackles pressing social issues:
- Human rights
- Climate change
- Gun violence
- Racial justice
One of the ensemble’s centerpiece works is a newly composed song cycle setting poems by UConn English Professor, V. Penelope Pelizzon. Her texts reflect themes of climate justice, planetary sustainability, and ecological disruption—exploring questions like what happens when pollinators vanish, how climate change drives human migration, and the unintended consequences of humans encroaching on fragile ecosystems.
Blending disciplines with intention, this project brings together poetry, music, entomology, and anthropology. Grounded in the research of UConn Professors David Wagner and Elle Ouimet, it offers a textured performance where scientific insight and artistic expression meet to stir reflection and conversation.
Additional featured poets include Sara Goudarzi, Rev. Dr. Michael Pfleger, and Everette Hoagland. MacDonald’s meticulous attention to word painting and musical imagery transforms each performance into a reflection—one that lingers long after the final note.
More Than Music—A Movement
This isn’t just another crossover project. Every composition is crafted with care, integrity, and artistic responsibility, seeking not just to blend genres, but to deeply connect with listeners—through emotion, purpose, and beauty.
As MacDonald himself puts it,“It’s not just music. It’s a movement. A call to listen. To reflect. To act.”
With new compositions set to premiere in concert settings before entering the studio in November 2025, audiences can expect a deeply immersive experience—one that redefines artistic boundaries and invites listeners into something entirely new.
