Ariel Horowitz
Sun Mountain concert will combine differing musical styles
By Marcy Stamper
It’s not often that musicians from different genres pool their talents, but a concert on the Friday after Thanksgiving will showcase the synergy that develops when a top-notch classical violinist teams up with two performers from the Methow folk-music scene.
Ariel Horowitz, a dynamic young violinist who’s studied with the greats in her field and performs around the world, is coming to the Methow to play with singer/songwriter Laura Love and guitarist Terry Hunt in a concert at Sun Mountain Lodge on Nov. 24.
The connection between the three musicians — from different but overlapping backgrounds — began about 10 years ago when Love was doing a “Sing Out the Vote” concert tour during Obama’s first election campaign with folksinger Holly Near.
Horowitz was just 12 years old then, but she attended one of Love’s Ohio concerts with her mother, a friend of Near’s. Love was captivated by Horowitz’s vitality. “Ariel was already an aspiring violinist and doing pretty big-deal things,” she said. “She was this little, adorable kid — I thought she was the best.”
Love and Near invited her to join them onstage, and Horowitz rose to the occasion, jumping right in and improvising on folk music.
Over the next decade, Love followed Horowitz on Facebook, watching as she attended the Juilliard School and as her performing career soared. On a recent tour, Love and Hunt concocted a plan and decided to invite Horowitz to the Methow for a concert.
“She got right back to us and said she’d love to come,” said Love.
Extensive repertoire
Horowitz’s playing has been described as “spectacularly lyrical.” Other reviewers picked up on the same energy that so inspired Love. “If they gave out prizes for attitude … we think we may have found the Olympic champion,” said one.
At the Sun Mountain concert, Horowitz, who’s now studying music at Yale University, will play solos from her extensive classical repertoire. She’ll also team up with Hunt on Astor Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango,” which traces the tango as it evolved from lively and passionate to slower and more introspective.
The three will also join forces on some of Love’s originals and on standards like “Wayfaring Stranger.”
“They’re folk songs Ariel can seamlessly drop into,” said Love, who will deliver her compelling vocals accompanied by bass guitar.
Love and Hunt have been touring widely over the past year, playing gigs including the Philadelphia Folk Festival and the Strawberry Music Festival in California. Love marveled at their opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Graham Nash, Mavis Staples and Taj Mahal.
She credits Hunt for the resurgence of her music career as she came through a difficult personal period. She’s been singing with Hunt and other local musicians in the rock band Family Dog. As a duo, she and Hunt have been touring widely and are recording a new album.
The concert is at 7 p.m. in the Pasayten Room at Sun Mountain Lodge. Tickets are $20 general admission and $5 for students.
