A driving force behind the neo-klezmer movement since its inception in the early 1980s, Andy Statman, newly signed to Sony Classical, remains an extraordinary paradox: a musician devoted to musical tradition who also continues to break new artistic ground. A celebrated mandolin player in the "Newgrass" movement of the 1970s, Andy Statman (clarinettist/composer/bandleader) has recently reinvigorated yet another realm of traditional musicmaking - klezmer - with his own particular blend of virtuosity, and originality.

The Hidden Light (SK 60814), Andy Statman's first release on Sony Classical, draws upon his commitment to traditional repertoire as well as his singular capacity as a composer in the klezmer revival style.

Fronting a quartet that features such jazz luminaries as pianist Bruce Barth, drummer Bob Weiner and bassist Scott Lee, Statman leads the listener into equal measures of traditional and new music. This recording marks a new direction for Statman, in that it combines the spiritual depth of klezmer ­ captured here in the niggunim, melodies from the mystical Chassidim of Judaism ­ with the improvisational qualities of jazz.

A founding member of the Newgrass collective "Country Cookin'" in the early seventies, he marked his turn to klezmer with three recordings by the Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra. Subsequent releases included a collection of traditional Jewish songs with mandolin - great David Grisman and another collection of klezmer recordings with Itzhak Perlman.

Acknowledged among the most authoritative of klezmer revivalists, Andy Statman was the pupil of master clarinettist Dave Tarras, who bequeathed his instruments to Statman when he died.