Today, I’m excited to introduce a new portrait and my friend, Hanah Jon Taylor.
Hanah is the owner of Cafe CODA in Madison, a club renowned for its dedication to jazz. Almost every night, Cafe CODA hosts performances by an array of talented jazz musicians and ensembles. However, what truly sets Hanah apart is his commitment to youth in the community. Every Saturday, he opens the club to young musicians, ages 10 to 18, offering them a unique opportunity to perform in front of a live audience—often for the first time. These performances allow the youth to play in groups and even take the stage for solos. It's an invaluable experience for these aspiring musicians, offering mentorship and the thrill of live performance.
Young performers are encouraged to bring their own instruments, but for those without, Hanah generously provides a variety of percussion, woodwind, brass, and string instruments to borrow—all at no cost.
This is just a glimpse of the incredible work Hanah does to support music education in the Madison area. It was truly an honor to meet him and present this unexpected portrait. I’m looking forward to attending more jazz performances and the inspiring Cool Schools sessions in the near future.
Learn more about Cafe CODA's community outreach at https://cafecoda.club/community-outreach.
