Madison Jazz Jam

Iconic composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams was born on May 8, 1910, and Cafe Coda will celebrate her life and music with a full day of events, kicking off at 1 p.m. with a special edition of the Madison Jazz Jam, led by Dan VanZeeland and the Mount Horeb High School Combo. At 3 p.m., the 2015 documentary Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band will be shown; at 5 p.m., a viewing party for a livestream from the Kennedy Center features a performance of Remember Me: Mary Lou Williams in Poetry and Music by Madison poet Fabu Phillis Carter and pianist Jane Reynolds. And at 7 p.m., a concert featuring music by Williams will be presented by Deanna Witkowski, a pianist, composer and author of the book Mary Lou Williams: Music For The Soul. Find tickets for the 7 p.m. concert at cafecoda.club; other events are free.

media release: Madison Jazz Jam1st Saturday Student Led Showcase and Jam series returns at Cafe Coda,113 W. Dayton St., Madison. This series features combos from local universities & high schools, with a showcase session from 1-2 PM, followed by a jam from 2-4 PM. The young musicians in these house bands are a special treat, and great new talents. As always, all ages are welcome both to listen and jam, there's no cover charge, and the music is great.

In May: moves to 5/10: MADISON JAZZ JAM AND SHOWCASE.  Co-presented by Madison Jazz Jam and Madison Jazz Society, this month’s student-led jam will be the opening segment of a special Mary Lou Williams tribute day at Café CODA on the occasion of Ms. Williams’ 115^th birthday. Tentative plans are for a couple of high school bands to showcase a few songs, followed by a jam session led by UW School of Music students.  Café CODA, 1224 Williamson Street, 1:00 pm  Free admission, but donations accepted.  

Continuing every 3rd Wednesday of the month, MJJ  and MJS will hold a monthly series of workshops followed by jams at COPA, 2841 Index Road, Madison. This venue is located about 1 minute from the junction of the Beltline & Fish Hatchery Road. The workshop goes from 6-7 pm, and the jam is from 7-9:30 pm.

Madison Jazz Jam is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit educational organization. We fund our jam sessions entirely through donations, and all donations to the organization are tax-deductible. Please donate here. (Thank you!)