This events calendar includes Earl’s upcoming performances, compositional debuts, recordings and educational activities. On mobile devices this calendar is best viewed horizontally.
Upcoming Gigs
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Wed30Apr2025
College Showcase at Black Eyed Sally's
7 - 10 PM
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!
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Fri02May2025
Sean Nelson & the New London Big Band: Album Release Concert
8 - 10:30PM
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 -
Mon05May2025
UConn Jazz Clinics at Hall High School
5 - 7 PMHall High School, West Hartford
UConn Jazz Faculty coach Hall High School jazz students.
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Sun11May2025
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
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Mon14Jul2025Fri18Jul2025
Jazz In July Summer Music Program
Fine Arts Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Jazz 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.
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Fri25Jul2025
Jazz in July All-Stars Concert
6 - 9PMAmherst Town Common, Amherst, Massachusetts
The 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 CaputoThis concert is presented in cooperation with the Amherst Business Improvement District as part of their summer concert series. -
Sun19Oct2025
UConn Jazz Combos
3 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.Steven Bulmer, director
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Sun09Nov2025
UConn Jazz Lab Band
3:00 - 4:30 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.Earl MacDonald, director
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Sun16Nov2025
UConn Jazz Ensemble
6 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.John Mastroianni, director
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Thu05Feb2026Fri06Feb2026
UConn High School Jazz Festival
9 AM - 6 PMvon 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.
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Sun12Apr2026
UConn Jazz Lab Band
3:00 - 4:30 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.Earl MacDonald, director
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Sun19Apr2026
UConn Jazz Combos
3 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.Steven Bulmer, director
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Sun26Apr2026
UConn Jazz Ensemble
6 PMvon der Mehden Recital Hall, Storrs, CT
General admission is $10.
Students, faculty, children and military members with ID are admitted free.John Mastroianni, director
