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the neck hanging in my home studio, a victim of DIY fretboard scalloping. MI: What is your all-time favorite instrument? JM: It’s a tie for first place between a 1980 Greco Les Paul copy and a 1975 Fender Strat. Both were unbelievably heavy (upwards of 15 lbs each) but they played like a dream. I had put my favorite set of PAFs in the LP and replaced the no name electronics in the Strat with a set of noiseless Fender pickups, and they gave me exactly the sound I wanted from both of them. I gigged both mercilessly. Around the time I had both, I was into the neo-classical style of playing and both guitars were so smooth and fast I had no trouble running scales as fast as possible. MI: What instruments are currently in your arsenal? JM: My go-tos have been my Gibson Melody Maker Flying V, a 1970s reissue Fender Strat and a Dan Armstrong Lucite guitar. Over the years I’ve learned to appreciate simplicity in the guitars I play, and I’m a firm believer in just running a single bridge pickup and a volume control. I enjoy using Les Pauls and Strats in the studio for their versatility but you’d be hard pressed to see me live without a single humbucker rock ’n’ roll machine. — By Kimberly Kapela
The frontman and guitarist of rock band Satin Banshee talks about the guitars that shaped his musical journey, as well as his live arsenal, which centers around a Gibson Melody Maker Flying V, a 1970s reissue Strat and a Dan Armstrong Lucite guitar. JORDAN MARKS OF SATIN BANSHEE Music Inc.: What was your first instrument? Jordan Marks: My first instrument was a Squier Stratocaster in Seafoam Green. It was a re- ally great guitar, and I got it from this weird hole-in-the-wall shop in my hometown. It kickstarted my love for Strats, and I learned how to fix guitars by tinkering with it. Most of the guitar has been lost to time, but I have
JodyJazz’s Jody Espina (left) performs during the jazz fest.
J odyJazz recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special performance by Kirk Whalum at the 44th annual Savannah Jazz Festival, held Sept. 19–20 in Savannah, Georgia’s Forsyth Park. The 2025 edition of the festival featured a lineup of world-recognized jazz artists, including Jocelyn Gould, Tony Monaco, Anat Cohen and Spyro Gyra. The highlight of the second evening was a headlining performance by Grammy winner and multiple Grammy-nominated saxophonist Kirk Whalum, a JodyJazz endorser artist celebrated for his soulful sound and dynamic stage presence. Just before Whalum took the stage, Jody Espina, founder and president of JodyJazz, was honored with a proclamation from the mayor of Savannah, which was presented by the festival’s executive director. The proclamation recognized JodyJazz’s 25th anniversary and Espina’s ongoing contributions to the Savannah community and to the art of jazz as a whole. At the start of his set, Whalum invited Espina on stage for a special rendition of Grover Washington Jr.’s “Mister Magic.” With Espina on alto and Whalum on tenor, the two paid fitting tribute to the legendary sax master . {jodyjazz.com} JodyJazz Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Performance at Jazz Fest
20 I MUSIC INC. I NOVEMBER 2025
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