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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Thu17Apr2025Fri18Apr2025
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
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Fri18Apr2025
The River Room: Ribbon-Cutting & Open House Celebration!
6:45 - 8PMThe River Room, 50 Riverside Drive, Willimantic, CT, 06226
Trio with Michael Farina – tenor sax, Fumi Tomita – string bass, Earl MacDonald – piano
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Tue22Apr2025
UConn Jazz Combos
8 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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Fri25Apr2025Sun27Apr2025
58th NAfME Eastern Division In-Service Conference
Hartford Convention Center
UConn Jazz Ensemble performance. Time TBA
April 26, 9 – 10AM: Jazz Pedagogy Round Table -
Sun27Apr2025
UConn Jazz Ensemble Concert, featuring arranger Michael Abene
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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Wed30Apr2025
College Showcase at Black Eyed Sally's
7 - 10 PM
Black-Eyed Sally's. 350 Asylum St., Hartford, CT, 860-278-7427.
At the annual College Showcase event, student groups will perform from four neighboring jazz programs – UConn, Hartt, WCSU and UMass. Each group will perform a 1/2 hour set, followed by an open jam session where they come together in musical collaboration.
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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
