CURRENT & FORTHCOMING
Songs for a Shifting World — live performances
Selections from Songs for a Shifting World continue to be presented in public performance contexts.
In July 2026, Black Square Ensemble performs the work as part of the Hartford Jazz Society’s Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series in Bushnell Park, Hartford, Connecticut. The concert is free and will be broadcast live on WWUH 91.3 FM.
Rain location: Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford.
This performance anchors the series’ social justice–themed evening. The Paul Brown Series is recognized by the Library of Congress as the oldest free, continuously running jazz festival in the United States.
Additional performances will be announced as confirmed.
RECENT MILESTONES
Songs for a Shifting World — premiere and recording
Black Square Ensemble premiered Songs for a Shifting World in November 2025, following initial rehearsals and a sold-out debut concert at the River Room in Willimantic, Connecticut. The performance featured eight movements from the cycle.
Recording sessions took place immediately following the premiere. The album is currently in post-production (editing and mixing), with release planned for later in 2026.
SELECTED COMPOSITIONS & COLLABORATIONS
Jazz & Justice Suite: A Declaration in Seven Movements
Premiered in April 2026 at von der Mehden Recital Hall, University of Connecticut.
This original suite, composed and performed by UConn Jazz faculty, responds musically to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each movement addresses a specific human rights concern through composition, narration, and improvisation.
Performers included Earl MacDonald (piano), Leala Cyr (voice), and members of the UConn Jazz faculty.
Presented in collaboration with the UConn Human Rights Institute.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
Alongside composing and performing, Earl continues his work as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut, teaching, composing, and mentoring students while developing new large- and small-ensemble projects.
He also regularly serves as an adjudicator and clinician at regional and national jazz festivals, including education-centered events focused on performance, improvisation, and ensemble development.
This page reflects recent and ongoing work. Details are updated as projects evolve.