Mouthpieces for Every Player
The JodyJazz difference begins well before a mouthpiece is put into production. Company founder Jody Espina knows how much a mouthpiece impacts tonal quality and performance. This knowledge has driven him and the rest of the JodyJazz team to craft mouthpieces for every clarinet or saxophone player — no matter the style of music they play. The company produces every sound possible, from the rich darkness of the HR* Custom Dark series to the edgy brightness of the Super Jet series. An ultra-wide range of mouthpiece options, materials, and finishes ensures there’s a JodyJazz mouthpiece that satisfies every sonic and visual need
Crafted by Hand in the USA
State-of-the-art, 3D-design technology; 5-axis CNC machining; and artisanal touches make JodyJazz mouthpieces stand out from the crowd. They deliver unmatched sound and superior playability alongside exceptional good looks. These mouthpieces are built entirely in JodyJazz’s factory in Savannah, Georgia, by exceptionally skilled artisans who ensure each mouthpiece performs at its best. JodyJazz’s obsession with consistency and its dedicated team of high-level players means every mouthpiece is a high achiever.
Played by the Greats
Many of the world’s most accomplished saxophone players prefer playing with JodyJazz. The company’s detail-oriented construction methods and versatile-sounding mouthpieces make JodyJazz mouthpieces the perfect choice for anything from classical to jazz. So, how good are JodyJazz mouthpieces really? Players including Kirk Whalum, George Garzone, Tom Scott, Jeff Coffin, Andy Snitzer, Don Braden, Frank Catalano, Logan Richardson, Noah Preminger, Derek Brown, Ed Calle, Jason Marshall, Jeff Kashiwa, Darren Rahn, and the entire sax section of the Count Basie Orchestra trust JodyJazz for their performances.
Designed and Built by Players
Jody Espina has enjoyed amazing success as a world-renowned saxophonist and educator. As the founder, president, and designer of JodyJazz saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces, Jody’s musical roots run deep. He graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 1983 before a teaching stint in Barcelona. Once back in the States, Jody settled down in New York City, spending 23 years performing and recording while educating the next generation of saxophone artists. Jody’s body of work includes countless Broadway shows, movie soundtracks, and serving as the head of the Hoff-Barthelson Music School’s jazz department. These days, Jody Espina keeps a busy schedule designing and refining new products, traveling the world showing his mouthpieces off, and giving clinics on playing and mouthpiece design. In Jody’s words: “As a player, I will play on nothing less than the best setup for me. As a mouthpiece maker, I will settle on making nothing less than the best mouthpiece for you.”
HR* Series & DV Series: The Most Popular JodyJazz Mouthpieces
Pronounced “HR Star,” the HR* mouthpiece series is a consistent hard rubber, round-chamber mouthpiece. Crafted from ebonite, HR* mouthpieces leverage round, medium-sized chambers that help them deliver a gorgeous warmth and free-blowing feel. The people at JodyJazz report that the HR* is ideal for jazz, big band, bebop, and so much more.
One of Jody Espina’s most important goals when creating JodyJazz was to build a mouthpiece delivering unreal power and brilliance without losing the rich, full-bodied sound that saxophonists need. Inspired by Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code, Jody designed and patented the DV Series. These mouthpieces follow the golden mean proportions of nature, giving you an ultra-efficient and enjoyable playing experience. Every DV Series mouthpiece is made of 24K gold–plated metal and supplies free-blowing power and full tone — the perfect harmony between nature, science, and imagination.
The JodyJazz Story
The JodyJazz story goes all the way back to 1999. Company founder and professional saxophonist Jody Espina met legendary mouthpiece maker Santy Runyon. It was a meeting that radically altered Jody’s life trajectory. Their partnership started in earnest when Santy customized a mouthpiece to Jody’s exact specifications. The mouthpiece, fittingly dubbed “JodyJazz,” became Jody’s go-to piece. Fast forward to 2000, and Jody founded JodyJazz Inc. to sell his special mouthpiece. Orders poured in, and Jody outsourced production to Santy Runyon’s factory in Opelousas, Louisiana. For the next six years, Jody regularly traveled back to Louisiana to learn all he could from Santy Runyon. The year 2008 saw JodyJazz relocate to Savannah, Georgia, and now every aspect of production takes place in their 4,500-square-foot facility. With the help of five CNC machines and 24 talented employees, Jody continues to spread the good word of JodyJazz across the planet.
Chedeville & Rousseau
JodyJazz isn’t just blazing the trail for saxophone pioneers: the company has also acquired a family of brands encompassing fan-favorite clarinet and saxophone mouthpiece manufacturers. In 2018, JodyJazz bought the rights to Chedeville, one of the leading lights in clarinet mouthpiece manufacturing. Now, under JodyJazz, all Chedeville mouthpieces use the reformulated rod rubber formula that perfectly re-creates the magic of vintage Chedeville mouthpieces. They’re also offering special collaborations with James Kanter and Milan Rericha.
The year 2020 saw JodyJazz acquire Rousseau, a brand famous for its incredibly unique and imaginative saxophone mouthpiece designs. Originally owned by concert saxophonist and professional Dr. Eugene Rousseau, Rousseau’s mouthpieces are celebrated for their timeless, cutting-edge character. Now, all Rousseau mouthpieces are hand finished and play tested by JodyJazz. Whether you’re playing a JodyJazz, Chedeville, or Rousseau mouthpiece, it’s built according to the strictest quality-control measures in the JodyJazz workshop in Savannah, Georgia.
