About Pathways To Jazz

Pathways To Jazz began in 2014 when founder Alan Cogen, with the support of Program Manager Sarah Goodroad and the Boulder County Arts Alliance, created a grant program to provide funding for exceptional jazz musicians who wanted to produce professional recordings. Originally for Colorado artists only, the program’s success led to a nationwide expansion in 2019. Then, in its 10th year of funding and with the help of the organization Music For Love, Pathways To Jazz expanded into Italy.

A high-quality recording is not only a way to document and preserve jazz but also an essential tool for artists to book gigs, reach new audiences, and grow their careers. Since its inception, Pathways To Jazz has awarded grants to 116 artists, recognizing the immense value of recorded music in shaping artistic journeys.

Over the last ten years, Alan and Sarah have witnessed firsthand the profound impact their grant has had on musicians' lives. From helping an artist land a dream university job to allowing an 80-year-old musician to record his work for the first time, the stories are inspiring. Some recipients have documented music that had never been recorded, while college students have advanced in their education and careers. One story that stands out is of a musician who was ready to quit entirely—until they received the grant. That moment of validation led them to create an exquisite album, reigniting their passion for music. Pathways To Jazz is honored to support artists in bringing their music to life and ensuring their work reaches and inspires audiences for years to come.


Alan Cogen | Founder

In 2014, Alan Cogen created a grant for the express intention of supporting jazz musicians to create albums. The grant was initially only available to Colorado residents, and over time, it helped to foster a thriving local jazz scene. In 2019, Alan opened the grant to any US applicant and as of 2022, Pathways To Jazz has given grants to 93 musicians from states across the nation.

Alan also supports musicians, music educators and children eager to learn music through his philanthropic support of music education. He is passionate about the power of music and is the Executive Producer of the film Mixtape Trilogy: The Story of the Power of Music, a documentary that examines the relationship between music artists and their fans, featuring Indigo Girls, Vijay Iyer, and Talib Kweli.


Sarah Goodroad | Program Manager

Sarah Goodroad helped Alan Cogen begin Pathways To Jazz in 2014, and continues to build and expand the grant program. Sarah is a classical cellist by training, played bass guitar in rock and punk bands, and was a DeeJay at KUNC 91.5 FM in Greeley, Colorado and Hot 93.1 FM in Rapid City, South Dakota. One day, she found a ukulele in her Grandparents' basement and that started her on a new journey. She began learning and then teaching ukulele and in 2010, she founded the Boulder Ukulele Group, a community group of musicians who met once a month to sing and play. She led the group for ten years.

Sarah is a Colorado native and is passionate about the power of music to transform lives and create friendships among unlikely friends. Through her work as a music educator and as the Program Manager for Pathways to Jazz, she has witnessed firsthand the power in believing in someone’s dream.