Andy Statman

Andy Statman is a noted Klezmer clarinetist and bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist.

Andy Statman first gained acclaim as a mandolinist in pioneering bluegrass bands Country Cookin' and Breakfast Special. Statman, a Jew, realized that bluegrass was not his music. He turned to Klezmer music, traditional Jewish folk music. Now playing clarinet, he recorded various Klezmer albums that were influential in the Klezmer revival that began in the late 70s. In the 90s, he began playing Hassidic melodies, fusing bluegrass, klezmer, and jazz along the way.

Statman learned Klezmer clarinet from legendary Klezmer clarinetist Dave Tarras, who bequeathed his clarinets to him.

The Andy Statman Trio, which includes bassist Jim Whitney and drummer Larry Eagle, plays regularly at Derech Amuno Synagogue in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Despite Statman's vast influence on two major musical genres, Bluegrass and Klezmer, he has not compromised his artistic integrity and has managed to stay out of the spotlight. He does, however, participate in a yearly Klezmer concert series with Itzhak Perlman and other Klezmer superstars.

Discography

* 1977 Jewish Klezmer Music
* 1980 Flatbush Waltz
* 1983 Mandolin Abstractions
* 1985 New Acoustic Music
* 1986 Nashville Mornings, New York Nights
* 1988 Rounder Bluegrass, Vol. 2
* 1992 Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra
* 1994 Klezmer Suite
* 1994 Andy's Ramble
* 1995 Acoustic Disc: 100% Handmade Music, Vol. 2
* 1995 Doyres (Generations): Traditional Klezmer Recordings, 1979-1994
* 1995 Songs of Our Fathers
* 1995 Holding On: Dreamers, Visionaries, Eccentrics & Other American Heroes
* 1996 American Fogies, Vol. 1
* 1996 Blue Ribbon Fiddle
* 1996 Klezmer Music: A Marriage of Heaven & Earth
* 1996 Rounder Bluegrass Guitar
* 1997 Between Heaven & Earth: Music of the Jewish Mystics
* 1998 The Hidden Light
* 1998 Holiday Tradition
* 1998 The Soul of Klezmer
* 2000 Klezmer: From Old World To Our World
* 2001 Bluegrass Mountain Style
* 2001 New York City: Global Beat of the Boroughs - Music From New York City's Ethnic....
* 2005 On Air
* 2005 Avodas Halevi

External links

* [http://andystatman.org/ andystatman.org]
* [http://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/statman/bio.html Sony Classical Andy Statman biography]
* [http://youtube.com/user/DerechAmuno YouTube clips of the Andy Statman Trio]