September 28, 2023 I Award
JodyJazz Founder Inducted into Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame
Jody Espina at front right.
Jody Espina, founder and president of JodyJazz, has been inducted into the Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame. Recognized for his significant contributions to the jazz landscape in Savannah, Georgia, Espina became the 47th inductee into the Hall of Fame, taking his place alongside such jazz artists as Joe King Oliver, Johnny Mercer, Ben Tucker, James Moody and more. The official induction took place during September’s annual Savannah Jazz Festival where Espina was congratulated on stage by the city’s mayor, Van Johnson.
A 1983 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Espina performed and taught music in Barcelona, then toured the United States with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra before settling in New York City in 1985. He founded JodyJazz in New York in 2000 and moved the company to Savannah in 2008 where he now employs 24 people. JodyJazz’s business continues to grow with the recent acquisitions of the Chedeville and E. Rousseau brands of classical mouthpieces.
Espina is a regular performer across Savannah at many venues and also performs with the Savannah Jazz Orchestra. As a member of the Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame, Espina will now be featured in the new Savannah Jazz History and Hall of Fame Exhibit located at the Savannah History Museum.
