Follow The River With A Father/Daughter Composer And Songwriter Duo

The music emanates from the Shelter Island home of one musical family, echoing across the waters of Peconic Bay and around the world.

An accomplished pianist, Bruce Wolosoff’s compositions integrate modern classical, jazz, and blues together into an authentic American voice. Meanwhile his daughter, Juliet Garrett is currently working on her debut solo album, a folk rock project with blues and pop influences.

Together, on Friday, September 6, at 8 p.m., they will present “Follow the River,” an evening of original music at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

In recent years, Wolosoff has been composing music in response to visual art. His “Astronomer's Key,” inspired by the artwork of Milton Resnick, was commissioned by the Roswell Artists in Residence Foundation in celebration of its 50th Anniversary. His composition “The Loom,” inspired by the watercolors of Eric Fischl, was commissioned by the Eroica Trio and premiered by them at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Another piece, “for April” a work for cello and piano inspired by the charcoal drawings of April Gornik was recorded by Wolosoff with Sara Sant'Ambrogio and released as part of a book of Gornik’s drawings.

All three of these works have been recorded by the Montage Music Society and were released in January 2019. His “Concerto for Cello and Orchestra” was recorded in London by Sara Sant’Ambrogio and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It will be released along with the Elgar Concerto and two pieces by Astor Piazzola in the fall of 2019.

Drawing influence from her musical heroes Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Fleetwood Mac, daughter Juliet Garrett writes honest, heartfelt, classic songs, bringing the tradition of ’70s formal songwriting into the modern day. Garrett has played across Europe in such venues as the Spiritual Bar in London, the Jazz Club in Torino Italy, and the Malmo Live Concert Hall in Sweden. In New York, she frequently appears at venues such as Rockwood Music Hall and the Mercury Lounge. Her debut EP, "Make Believe," was also just recorded in London and will also be released this fall. In addition to the Guild Hall show with her father, upcoming dates in the area include performances at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett and at Annie O's Standard Showcase Series in Manhattan.

This concert program was the brainchild of the John Drew Theater’s Artistic Director Josh Gladstone, who noticed that Wolosoff’s cello concerto was being recorded in London by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the same time that his daughter was there to record "Make Believe." This global synchronicity between family members working in related art forms gave him an idea.

“Guild Hall is all about artists, and we especially love partnering with artists who live and work and are connected vibrantly to our community. So pairing the uber-talented father/daughter musicians Bruce and Juliet, who hail from Shelter Island yet whose music journeys well beyond local shores, gracing airwaves across the globe — well, giving them a night to shine together at the Drew is really a no-brainer,” Gladstone says. “Multi-generational, internationally renowned, homegrown talent, playing together and sharing the stage? A special night at Guild Hall, not to be missed!

“I’m honored to be sharing the stage with my dad, and doubly honored to have the opportunity to do so in our hometown theater,” said Garrett, whose most recent song, ‘Small Town Girl,’ touches on the beauty of growing up in a close-knit community. “Dad has been my primary music teacher since I was a kid. I love his music and continue to be inspired by it. He creates these gorgeous harmonies with soaring, lyric melodies that transport me elsewhere and evoke genuine emotion.”

Wolosoff notes that the inspiration goes both ways.

“I love Juliet’s songs. Her lyrics are brilliant and she has the gift of writing an unforgettable melody. I am so freaking proud of her,” he said.

The evening’s program takes its title from the title lyric of one of Ms. Garrett’s songs, “Follow the River," and goes “Follow the river, my father said, follow the river home.”

Tickets for “Follow the River” with Bruce Wolosoff and Juliet Garrett are $22 to $70 ($20 to $65 for members) at guildhall.org or 631-324-4050. Band members for the performance include cellist Dorothy Lawson, guitarist John Brodeur, electric bass player Sam Minaie, and Chuck Staab on drums. Guild Hall is at 158 Main Street, East Hampton.