Andy Statman - Biography

Andy Statman (born 1950) is a noted Klezmer clarinetist and bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist.

Andy Statman was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He first gained acclaim as a mandolinist in pioneering bluegrass bands Country Cookin' and Breakfast Special. Statman, who grew up in a traditional but secular Jewish home, began to explore his Jewish roots. He turned to Klezmer music, traditional Eastern European Jewish instrumental music. Now playing clarinet, he recorded various albums that were highly influential in the Klezmer revival that began in the late 70s. Soon, he began playing Chassidic melodies, fusing bluegrass, klezmer, and jazz along the way.

Statman learned Klezmer clarinet from legendary Klezmer clarinetist Dave Tarras, who bequeathed several of his clarinets to him. Statman also produced Dave Tarras's last recording. Given this apprenticeship and his subsequent teaching at workshops such as KlezKamp as well as privately, Statman has become the dean of living Klezmer clarinetists.

The Andy Statman Trio, which includes bassist Jim Whitney and percussionist Larry Eagle, plays regularly at Derech Amuno Synagogue in Greenwich Village in New York City, and tours nationally as schedules allow.

In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83.

He has participated in a yearly Klezmer concert series with Itzhak Perlman and other Klezmer superstars.

In 2007, he was a Grammy Awards nominee in the Country Instrumental category for his version of Bill Monroe's "Rawhide" on Shefa CD "East Flatbush Blues."

In 2008, Statman appeared as a guest on Bela Fleck and the Flecktones holiday album Jingle All the Way, playing both clarinet and mandolin. The album won Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 51st Grammy Awards. He joined the group in concert on December 10 at University at Buffalo, Center for the Arts, and December 16 at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center.

"Old Brooklyn," his latest recording project, was released in October 2011 on Shefa Records. This double CD features the American roots, R&B, Chassidic and other sides of his music, performed with his trio, Jim Whitney on bass and Larry Eagle on drums and percussion, along with fiddler Byron Berline and guitarist Jon Sholle. Guest artists include Ricky Skaggs, Béla Fleck, Paul Shaffer, Bruce Molsky, Art Baron, Marty Rifkin, Bob Jones, Lew Soloff, Kristen Muller and John Goodman.

Personal information

Andy Statman is married to the former Barbara Soloway, an artist and teacher. They have four children and six grandchildren. Andy is a baal teshuvah.

Discography

• 1979 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....
• 2004 Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge
• 2005 On Air
• 2005 Avodas Halevi
• 2006 East Flatbush Blues
• 2006 Awakening from Above
• 2011 Old Brooklyn

External links

• andystatman.org
• Handler, Judd. Andy Statman's musical soul (retrieved January 27, 2010)
• Andy Statman. Clarinet Klezmer between heaven and earth (retrieved January 27, 2010)