"As soon as I played the DV CHI tenor mouthpiece, I knew it was going to me be my main piece and my Link would become my backup. The mouthpiece is a work of art. It articulates like nothing I’ve ever played and the projection is amazing with no loss of tone integrity. It has a beautiful “ping” yet has depth and width with a true three-dimensional sound. Brilliant job, Jody!!."

"I’ve been looking for a good match for my Mark VI Alto with no real success. The DV Alto gives me the flexibility and color changes I need to use the same piece for lead alto and combo playing. As with all of the Jody Jazz pieces I have played, the articulation is clear and well punctuated and the dynamic spectrum is outstanding!"

"The ring is the thing!! Jody Jazz ring ligatures are outstanding. Prior to switching to Jody’s mouthpieces, I discovered the ring for my Otto Link tenor piece. It instantly focused my tone and cleared the “shadow” from my altissimo g. As it only touched the mouthpiece in a few spots and the reed along it’s longitudinal line, it allowed optimum vibration for the both the mouthpiece and reed. On the Jody Jazz mouthpieces, forget about it!! They are amazing!!!"

A native of Conyers, Georgia, Sam Skelton has been active on the Atlanta music scene for well over two decades. Mr. Skelton graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University and the private studio of Tony Carere with a degree in Jazz Studies. During his course of study at GSU, Sam was a Montgomery Music Scholar and a two-time fellowship recipient to the Aspen Music Festival. He continued his saxophone studies with Kenneth Radnofsky at Boston University in 1991 focusing on classical saxophone and music education.

As a woodwind doubler, Skelton is well versed in any genre of music. His grasp of saxophone, clarinet and flute has enabled him to remain very busy in live performance as well as in the studio.

Sam has performed and/or soloed with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The Atlanta Pops, The Peachtree Pops, The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and The Cobb Symphony Orchestra as well as numerous local high school and civic ensembles. World Premiers include James Oliverio’s Children of A Common Mother, Lee Johnson’s Ora Pro Mi: Concerto for Winds Soloist (clarinet, flute and soprano saxophone) and Seaside Symphony (clarinet and soprano saxophone soloist). Sam also played the premier recording of Ora Pro Mi and Seaside Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra.

As a sideman on over 250 compact discs, Sam remains very active in the studio and can be heard on recordings by such artists as: Elton John, December Radio, Babbie Mason, Howard Tate, Matchbox 20, Train, Edwin McCain, The Gap Band and The Ohio Players. Television and radio jingles include The Georgia Lottery, Glen Beck, The Weather Channel, The Travel Channel, Ford, The Cartoon Network, CNN, Nature’s Own, Popeye’s, Papa John’s and Turner South. Television appearances include In the Heat of the Night, Savannah and Sinbad’s Summer Jam II on HBO.

Sam is currently Director of Jazz Studies and Senior Lecturer in Saxophone at Kennesaw State University. He is also Artistic Director of GSO Jazz and GYSO Jazz. Sam served as Professor of Saxophone at Georgia State University from 1991 to 2004 and was Jazz Ensemble Director at Georgia Tech from 2002-2004 and Artist-in-Residence at The University Of Georgia Jazz Department. He served as Visiting Professor of Saxophone at Furman University 2001-02. Professional associations include: The Jazz Educators Network, Georgia Music Educators Association, Georgia Association of Jazz Educators, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (voting member) and the American Federation of Musicians. He resides in Buford, Ga with his wife, flutist Jeanne Carere and their 4 children.