Andy Statman bridging Jewish mysticism and American roots music 2008 Grammy Nominee for Best Country Instrumental Performance for the Rawhide! track from his East Flatbush Blues CD [Shefa Records] “a master of two idioms linked only by their demand for virtuosity and their down-home origins . ” — Th e New York Times “ . one of the greatest mandolinists of this—or any—era. He thinks at the speed of light and can play whatever he thinks of. As an improviser he is fearless, and his musical vocabulary has no limitations.” Photo: Ilana Pelzig Cellum — Chicago Tribune All are in evidence today, as this relentlessly searching creative “Statman is an inspired clarinetist, whose ecstatic improvisa- musician reaches new vistas of expression. tions on Chassidic themes express the mystical nature of Judaism As a clarinetist, Statman zeroes in on emotional territory through wild fl ights and leaps into the unknown.” that is often overlooked: the sublimely ecstatic centuries-old — Bay Area Reporter melodies that lie at the heart of Jewish music. Statman galva- nizes the klezmer music that he mastered under the tutelage of “Statman rhapsodizes with rich coppery trills and runs. It’s not legendary clarinetist Dave Tarras with the spiritually-oriented music that is so much listened to as absorbed through the pores.” avant-garde jazz of John Coltrane and Albert Ayler, and other — RootsWorld (continued on reverse) Andy Statman is a multifaceted instrumentalist of genius and Workshops, Master Classes, and Residency Activities vision, whose performances on the mandolin and clarinet Andy gives master classes in clarinet – traditional klezmer defy attempts at categorization. Th e culmination of decades of and Chassidic music; in mandolin – bluegrass and other creative development, Statman’s music expands the boundaries styles. Classes are geared to informing and bringing out the of traditional and improvisational forms. musicality and personal expression of each student. Andy With the release of his fi rst mandolin recording “Flatbush has written two instruction books on bluegrass mandolin, a Waltz” more than twenty-fi ve years ago, Statman immediately CD instruction series on jazz mandolin, and a DVD on how established himself as an innovative composer and improviser. to play klezmer music. He is on the staff of KlezKamp and From the outset, his musical vocabulary encompassed numer- Th e Mandolin Symposium, and has taught master classes ous American jazz, blues, bluegrass, and ethnic folk styles. throughout America and Europe. BBooking:ooking: MMikeike GreenGreen & AssociatesAssociates 734.769.7254734.769.7254 wwww.mikegreenassociates.comww.mikegreenassociates.com PPublicity:ublicity: AAndyndy StatmanStatman reinventing 7718.664.730618.664.7306 • wwww.andystatman.orgww.andystatman.org traditional music AAndyndy StatmanStatman • ppageage 2 Feldman in 1977. Simultaneously, Andy was working with Th e Vassar Clements Band, David Grisman, and Brazilian percussionist Dom Um Romao. By 1980, he had released two highly infl uential albums, Jewish Klezmer Music, which became a touchstone of the neo-klezmer revival; and Flatbush Waltz, a mandolin masterpiece of post-bebop jazz improvisa- tions and ethnically-inspired original compositions, making it one of the fi rst “world music” records. Th e newly-formed Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra began recording and touring internationally, performing at the Berlin Jazz Festival and an “underground” concert in Prague. Another highlight of this period was the collaboration with the innovative Irish band, De Dannan. Th e mid-80s saw (bio continued) Photo: Christoph Giese Andy’s Klezmer Orchestra turn into an electric band, and sub- ethnic folk styles. In so doing, he has created a language that sequently into a trio, which began to venture into Chassidic promises to be a touchstone for the Jewish instrumental music music and extended open improvisations. of the future. Th ings came full circle with the formation of the Andy Andy began playing bluegrass at age thirteen and was soon Statman Quartet featuring pianist Kenny Werner, re-envision- performing at colleges, on radio, in clubs, and on Sunday ing Chassidic music through the lens of Andy’s early avant- afternoons in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. garde jazz mentors. Th e band’s Between Heaven and Earth At seventeen, after hearing the brilliant avant-garde jazz saxo- CD was picked as one of the Top Ten CDs of the Year by Th e phonist Albert Ayler, he began to study saxophone. Th rough New York Times, and was reviewed on the cover of Billboard. his late teenage years he played sax in free jazz, funk, rock, and Concurrently Andy and his band were recording and tour- Chicago blues bands, while expanding his mandolin playing ing with violinist Itzhak Perlman. Other highlights of the late in similar directions. At the lead of John Coltrane, the jazz of 1990s were collaborations with David Grisman and with Bela this period turned to spiritual expression and exploration of Fleck & the Flecktones. world music; this creative atmosphere had a profound aff ect Andy’s current trio, working together since 2001, has enabled on Andy’s development. In 1970 he recorded and performed him to reach new depths of expression and creative breadth. with the experimental bluegrass group, Country Cooking. Th ey have recorded four CDs and performed nationally Shortly afterward, he was hired by David Bromberg, with and in Europe and Israel. Andy recently appeared as a guest whom he toured and recorded, including sessions with Bob artist with Ricky Skaggs at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Dylan, Th e Grateful Dead, and Dr. John. Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, as well as on CD and DVD. Still seeking to broaden his horizons, he began to study Greek, Albanian, and Adzerbaijani music. In 1975, Andy sought out For more than thirty years, Andy Statman has been the the legendary klezmer clarinetist Dave Tarras, who was then subject of feature articles in many of the top newspapers and retired and living in Brooklyn. Th is relationship blossomed, music magazines in the U.S, as well as stories on national and Andy became Tarras’ protégé, for whom the master wrote radio and television programs. He has performed at Carnegie a number of melodies. Hall, Town Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Met, as well as at major concert halls and festivals throughout the US, Europe, Statman fi rst brought klezmer music to the concert hall in Canada, Japan and Israel. New York, playing the traditional style with tzimbalist Zev BBooking:ooking: MMikeike GreenGreen & AssociatesAssociates 734.769.7254734.769.7254 wwww.mikegreenassociates.comww.mikegreenassociates.com PPublicity:ublicity: AAndyndy StatmanStatman reinventing 7718.664.730618.664.7306 • wwww.andystatman.orgww.andystatman.org traditional music.