ANDY STATMAN: Old Brooklyn
ANDY STATMAN
Old Brooklyn
Shefa 3004/5
Andy Statman, a bluegrass mandolin and klezmer clarinet virtuoso, blends elements of bluegrass and klezmer with elements of jazz, blues, rock and roll, folk, country, world music (often in the same tune) on the magnificent 25 tracks on two CDs that encompass Old Brooklyn.
To play this music, Statman surrounds himself with some other incredible musicians. His regular rhythm section of bassist Jim Whitney and drummer Larry Eagle plays on most tracks and they’re augmented on some tunes by old-time fiddler and banjoist Bruce Molsky and roots/jazz guitarist Jon Sholle. Other great musicians who play on certain tracks include Art Baron on trombone and tuba, Paul Shaffer on Hammond B-3 organ, Lew Soloff on piccolo trumpet, Béla Fleck on banjo and Marty Rifkin on pedal steel.
Each arrangement uniquely uses just the right combination of players. There are several pieces that Statman plays solo, as well as duets, including a version of the hymn “The Lord Will Provide” featuring vocalist Ricky Skaggs, trios, quartets, etc. Some tracks feature seven piece bands.
Several pieces are distinctly Jewish, including an arrangement of the traditional “Shabbos Nigun,” a beautiful duet featuring Statman’s clarinet in dialogue with Fleck’s banjo, and “Mah Yedidus,” a wild klezmer dance tune with Statman’s mandolin, Shaffer’s organ, Soloff’s piccolo trumpet trading licks on top of Whitney and Eagle’s unrelenting rhythms.
Among the other highlights are the bluegrass standard, “Long Journey Home,” featuring some very hot picking by Statman, Molsky and Sholle; Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You Baby,” featuring Statman’s bluesiest mandolin licks and some trombone and tuba playing by Baron that’s right out of Preservation Hall; and “Ocean Parkway After Dark,” which sounds like something the Ventures would have played if they were slightly naughty boys from Brooklyn.
— Michael Regenstreif