Jody's intimate interpretation of lyrics, delights her audiences creating the feeling that she is singing only to them.
"I'm a working actress who's getting her chops back after many, many, years of setting it by the wayside! Having a great time performing live again!" "I am loving being a part of this magical, and healing world of music."
As a singer and dancer in the mid 60's at the Riviera Hotel in LasVegas, Jody opened for some of the great headliners: Harry Belafonte, the Ink Spots, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Dinah Shore...
She spent 5 years entertaining and traveling with the USO and was awarded the prestigious USO pin for her dedication and years of service to our armed forces.
A soulful Jazz and Blues singer Jody Jaress was been named a 2015 Jazz and Blues Living Legend, and was celebrated at the 2015 JazZabration festivities presented by The Living Legend Foundation Inc. in partnership with the Duke Ellington Society, International Jazz Day 2015 founded and supported by UNESCO and The Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute. She was inducted into the Jazz and Blues Living Legend foundation with additional honors from the City of Los Angeles and NAACP Beverly Hills.
Jody is featured at local LA jazz clubs, a soloist at the Jazz Awards 2008/2010, Artistic Director of the"California Pop & Jazz Council" a member "Society of Singers", AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists), SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and also on the Board of "International Student Film Festival Hollywood," assisting with the development/promotion of aspiring young film makers.
Jody began her entertainment career over 30 years ago in Michigan and has made hundreds of appearances on stage, film and television. Her theatre work includes, BLYTHE SPIRIT, OF MICE AND MEN, ELIZABETH THE QUEEN; she garnered Best Actress awards for her roles in VERONICA'S ROOM, EQUUS, and THE GINGERBREAD LADY; received acclaim for her Command Performance as "Kate" in TAMING OF THE SHREW for Sir Basil Rathbone.
Some film credits include many awarded films: FRAGILE STORM with Lance Henrikson; 2 BEDROOM 1 BATH; CHAIN LINK, winning Best Picture at several International film festivals also winning many AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS; FRENEMY, w/Matthew Modine and Zach Galifianakis; CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, w/Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts; HOLLYWOODLAND, w/Adrien Brody and Ben Affleck; ABSOLUTE EVIL, w/David Carradine. She has lent her talents to several other award winning independent films: THE GUEST, SHELTER, and SCREECH. Television guest star roles on: DAYS OF OUR LIVES, TERMINATOR: THE SARA CONNOR CHRONICLES, also on: MICHAEL NESMITH'S TELEVISION PARTS, GHOST HUNTERS, EYE OF DAN, and the award winning ABC Special DIANE: PORTRAIT OF A RUNAWAY. Jody's well known for her National TV commercials and her diverse character voices on many Anime and Manga serials including the popular Rumiko Takahashi Anthology Series.
Jody has added Film Director/Writer to her talents with her debut short, TRACES OF MEMORY (a psychological thriller) which won 11(eleven) awards out of 15 festivals. She is now in pre-production on RETURN OF THE SACRED, written by Jody and private investigator, Roger Tolces.
