Andy Statman

Andy Statman is a noted klezmer clarinetist and bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist. He first gained acclaim as a mandolinist in pioneering the blugrass bands Country Cookin' and Breakfast Special with acclaimed bass player Roger Mason. Statman, as a Jew, soon became aware that bluegrass was not really his natural music and so he turned to Klezmer and traditional Jewish music. As he was by now a clarinetist as well as a mandolinist, he became involved in recording various Klezmer albums which became very influential in the Klezmer revival that began in the late 1970s.

He first gained acclaim as a mandolinist in pioneering the blugrass bands Country Cookin' and Breakfast Special with acclaimed bass player Roger Mason. Statman, as a Jew, soon became aware that bluegrass was not really his natural music and so he turned to Klezmer and traditional Jewish music. As he was by now a clarinetist as well as a mandolinist, he became involved in recording various Klezmer albums which became very influential in the Klezmer revival that began in the late 1970s.
Later on, in the 1990's, he started experimenting with Hassidic melodies, fusing bluegrass, klezmer and jazz music very effectively.
Andy Statman was taught to play clarinet by the legendary Klezmer clarinetist Dave Tarras who bequeathed his clarinets to Andy Statman and so they obviously had a great rapport as musicians.
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.