- Andy Statman made a musical name for himself as a pioneer of progressive bluegrass. But his eclectic approach to recording and performing has often kept his music from the public. But two new CDs are on their way to the market. -
Worth a Listen
Dovid Sears hits the proverbial nail on the head when he says that Andy's music, some of the greatest Jewish music out there, is unappreciated. Instead the masses listen to Shwekey and Fried.
Sad.
Thanks for the link, Hirshel. I would have missed this otherwise.
ReplyDeleteA link to his new CD that will be released on October 10th can be found HERE
ReplyDeleteNo problem ASJ, it's my pleasure. Has anybody ever been to a concert of his in the Shul basement that's mentioned in the story? What kind of setting is it? Would it be appropriate for a BenTorah of my stature?
ReplyDeleteHT,
ReplyDeleteHow do we define good music? I'm sure that Andy's music is great to the audience that appreciates it (small, though, it probably is) - but if it dosent have wide appeal, who is to blame?
Fine wine is surely great too, but people havent got the taste for it, so we drink Malaga.
Is there an inherant difference? I think R' Sears is pained that the eilam dosent appreciate it, but I might have the same statement if I were a Mattisyahu fan that felt that its a tragedy that the heimishers dont appreciate reggae... no?
This reminds me of the question:
ReplyDeleteWhat is Jewish music?
Answer: Music that is oriented to something ruchni, by an ehrlicher yid.
Not to attack the Jewish Pop-Music scene, but the difference is that
Andy is an ehrlicher yid.
I think that this is his latest:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/New-Shabbos-Waltz-David-Grisman/dp/B000G8NVYS/sr=1-3/qid=1158595804/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-7797924-5768642?ie=UTF8&s=music
Have you seen the new A. Fried video clip for his latest song?
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or is this disgusting in its mimiking of non-Jewish secular music videos? It takes Jewsih music to a new low...
Did he say that Rabbi Sears was a Jazz musician?
ReplyDeleteEli
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to put your finger on a particular piece of music and say that it's "good". But to recognize junk sound? that's pretty easy. Statman is no junk, that's for sure. The others are.
Avreml,
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure that a thousand Shweki fans will disagree...
me thinks, that in Statmans case, although his style is influenced by bluegrass & other secular styles, the soul of the chassidishe songs he plays, is not lost at all. It very well maybe unique in his case that his background adds to the soulfulness of his work.
ReplyDeleteמשא"כ with a Fried & all the other ones like him.
An interesting take on what is Jewish music, which takes off from a Chabad Rosh Yeshiva [Rabbi Akiva Wagner]'s opinion of Matisyahu's music,
ReplyDeletecan be found here. This follows an interview with Matisyahu.
Andy has become closer to authentic Jewish Negina since he started davening in the Modzitzer Shtibel in Flatbush! :))
Yitz
ReplyDeleteI would think that Chabad and Breslov had a deeper impact on his music, at least that's what I see from the music he's produced.
Eli
ReplyDeleteI tend to think of Shwekey fans as masses with no particular love for music, they just like loud noise made on musical instruments, not MUSIC.
amen, avremel
ReplyDeleteNot to attack the Jewish Pop-Music scene, but the difference is that
ReplyDeleteAndy is an ehrlicher yid.
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So is Avraham Fried, and so is Mordechai ben David (now really and sadly past his prime). There is nothing wrong with their music or with the way they conduct their lives.
itzik, i beg to differ.
ReplyDeleteyes they are erliche yidden, however, they sing acording to what they think the "oilom" wants to hear. andy, on the other hand does his own thing regardless, as per interview on npr.
That I agree with - Andy Statman is a real artist - the problem is that not everyone has the inclination to listen to his music.
ReplyDelete