Bluegrass mandolinist and jazz clarinetist Andy Statman will be joined by Wisconsin artists Jerry Wicentowski and Lucky Break for a concert at the UW Hillel Foundation February 23.

Born in Brooklyn, Statman first gained acclaim as a mandolinist in pioneering bluegrass bands Country Cookin’ and Breakfast Special. He then turned to Klezmer music, recording several albums that were influential in the Klezmer revival that began in the late 70s. In the 90s, Statman began playing Chassidic melodies, fusing bluegrass, klezmer, and jazz along the way.

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 a Grammy for  Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Andy Statman with Jerry Wicentowski and Lucky Break