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Combining tradition Jewish instrumental music with styles as seemingly disparate as bluegrass and Azeri folk music, Andy Statman's sound is uniquely his own.

On Sunday Oct. 18, Statman will perform at the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County in Edison.

Statman was one of the driving forces behind the resurgence of traditional Eastern European Jewish instrumental music, better known as klezmer, in the early 1970s.

"I heard that music as a child growing up," Statman told The Jewish State on when he first became aware of this musical legacy.

Statman, though, came of age professionally within the folk music scene of the 1960s, studying under legendary mandolinist David Grisman and performing with the likes of Bob Dylan, David Bromberg, and bluegrass fiddler Vassar Clements.

Early in his career, Statman began to experiment with Eastern European Jewish music, which he described as the instrumental versions of Hassidic tunes, or niggunim.

"I started playing professionally in my teens, and at one point started fooling around with the melodies," Statman said.

Statman said his goal was to play as well as this music was played in Europe. Many of the leading musicians of this style from Europe were passing away with no younger musicians to take their place, he explained.

Statman began to study under clarinetist Dave Tarras, who was one of the most prominent klezmer musicians of his generation.

"I was able to find one of the greatest, who many consider the greatest immigrant instrumentalist," he said, describing his tutelage under Tarras as akin to an "Old World apprenticeship."

Statman said that Tarras wanted him to continue his musical legacy without becoming a "carbon copy" of his teacher.

"I learned the language and learned my own voice," he said. "He wanted me to play like him, though in my own way."

His songs are not merely replications of the music found among Eastern European Jewry and their descendants. Rather, Statman embraces the Jewish music without forgoing his passion for American roots music, like bluegrass and old-time country, and incorporates these styles with folk music from as far away as Greece, Albania, and Azerbaijan. His music also features "a healthy dose of Jazz."

"The music comes out of that tradition, though with my own spin on it," he said of the way he incorporates klezmer music.

Statman described the renaissance of klezmer music over the last several decades, which he said was practically non-existent when he first began playing this music in the early '70s.

"When we started out, there were no real klezmer concerts," he said. "We were one of the first records of young musicians playing this older European style of Jewish instrumental music. It was pretty much dormant at the time."

Statman said that this sea change is a result of two parallel phenomena. The first is its inclusion in the category of "world music" and the growing popularity of international music in general.

"It went from basically being gone and forgotten to being part of world music," he said.

The second is how many Jews have been drawn to the music as a way to relate to their own heritage.

"[klezmer] is very important for many Jews to connect with their own heritage and past," he said.

Statman said that while this musical style is grounded in Ashkenazic culture, anyone can enjoy the music.

"klezmer music is really a big part of the American heritage," Statman said, explaining how many of the most prominent klezmer musicians developed their styles and careers in the U.S. and were influenced by American music and, in turn, influenced the nation's music.

"Its first of all great music -- anyone from all backgrounds can enjoy it," he said.

The concert will be held Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. with refreshments served afterward. Tickets purchased by Oct. 15 are $5 and thereafter are $10. The Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County is located at 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison.