A smiling older man with white hair, blue eyes, and light skin, wearing a black shirt against a black background.

Over the past thirty years I’ve written and recorded a great deal of music. Like many composers who don’t focus on self-promotion, much of this work never reached the wide audience I had hoped for, despite praise from some well-known artists, critics, and producers, and I had more or less accepted that it might never find a broader public.

In the summer of 2024 I uploaded a large portion of my catalog (including my jingle reel!) to Spotify. Representatives from Parma Recordings noticed it and released three albums of this work in early 2026 under the title Many Streams, One River. I also enjoyed a long career as a music journalist. Selections from that writing, along with links to each volume of Many Streams, One River, are available on this site.

I’d love to hear from you. Please drop me a line and let me know what you’re up to.

  • I just finished listening to Remo’s “Revenge.” I must say, Gary, this is a superb work. Without going into too much detail since it would take quite a few listenings to write in analytic terms, I found the piece engrossing from beginning to end. You have an inspired imagination with respect to interesting (in many cases, episodic) structure and just the sheer pleasure of keeping the listener involved.” I hope you are planning on having the work published!"

    –Steven Epstein

    Steven Epstein is an American record producer. He has won 16 Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammys, and has been nominated 35 times. He has won Grammy Awards for Classical Producer of the Year seven times. While he is primarily known for his work in classical music, Epstein has Grammy nominations and wins for albums in musical theater, musical show, crossover, soundtrack, and spoken word for children.

  • “Gary Eskow's string quartet, "Remo's Revenge" is an exciting and always fascinating piece, full of color and expressive storytelling. It is masterfully written for the quartet, both for the individual instruments and in terms of combining sounds among the group and throughout the work as a whole.”

    – Philip Setzer, Emerson String Quartet

  • Dear Gary , I just had a chance to listen to “Remo’s Revenge.” Very strong, muscular and insistent music-bravo!! …really great work. Congratulations!

    – Richard Danielpour
    Pre-eminent Grammy Award winning American composer, professor of composition, UCLA

  • “I very much enjoyed listening to “Remo’s Revenge.” The piece has lovely phrasing and is full of ideas. Congratulations on this fine achievement.”

    – Fred

    Alfred Whitford (Fred) Lerdahl is the Fritz Reiner Professor Emeritus of Musical Composition at Columbia University, and a composer and music theorist. He has written many orchestral and chamber works, three of which were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Music: Time after Time in 2001, String Quartet No. 3 in 2010, and Arches in 2011.

  • “I was hugely impressed by Gary Eskow’s string quartet, “Remo’s Revenge.” The music is engrossing and completely original.”

    – John Lunn, Emmy Award winning composer (“Downton Abbey”)

  • Just got back from Troy, where we recorded arrangements of Beethoven’s Symphony # 4 and the Archduke Trio, and had the opportunity to listen to “Undertow.”  My opinion: The work is brilliant. (Why do I never have anything negative to say about your music? Because it’s always interesting, substantial, and appealing!). It can easily stand repeated hearings without becoming tired. Each mov’t has its own attraction. The asymmetric meter of the last mov’t coupled with some jazz elements keeps you on your toes! This recording is excellent with respect to sound, balance AND performance from both instruments. This should definitely see a commercial release.

    – Steve

    Steven Epstein is an American record producer. He has won 16 Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammys, and has been nominated 35 times. He has won Grammy Awards for Classical Producer of the Year seven times. While he is primarily known for his work in classical music, Epstein has Grammy nominations and wins for albums in musical theater, musical show, crossover, soundtrack, and spoken word for children.

  • I listened to your recording and was deeply moved by it. The title “Undertow” really captures what I was feeling when listening. On the surface there are these beautiful harmonies and textures. Beneath the surface there’s a swirling of emotions and turbulence.

I love your musical language, a wonderful combination of seeming disparate qualities that you blend together so effectively. In the first movement I hear Brahms, Gabriel Faure, Ravel with modern harmonies and tensions added. The sonorities between the piano and cello are delicious. BTW, the recorded quality is gorgeous and the performances, superb. The piece as a whole is deeply expressive and emotional.

Congratulations Gary, your writing is truly masterful!!! 

Wishing you good health and happiness,

    – Fred

    Fred Hand is the best “classical guitarist” of his generation (and my former teacher!). Fred achieved international acclaim when just out of his teens he was accepted as a pupil by Julian Bream and became the master’s heir apparent.

    Over the last 40 years Fred has released a number of highly praised recordings of his own works.

  • “A wonderful piece…”

    – Richard Danielpour, pre-eminent Grammy Award winning American composer, professor of composition, UCLA

  • I had a chance to listen to “The Woodstock Chronicles” yesterday and really loved it. I like the material and energy, also the way you stop the motion rather suddenly (I always like longer fermati than anyone else in my group). Also admire the combination of jazz/swing feel and the chromaticism of the lines and harmony. And you don't shy away from dissonance, which I find strong and bold, especially these days when everyone seems to be writing in simpler and simpler harmonies and rhythms–a feeling of dumbing down, which may not be intentional, but irritates me nonetheless. You are a very gifted composer, my friend!

    – Phil Setzer, founding member of the Emerson String Quartet

  • The “Woodstock Chronicles” is an accomplished work. The somewhat different styles of each movement are seamlessly integrated into a whole. The second movement ends with a mini coda that propels the listener into the third movement, which has a solemnity that is compelling. An excellent piece.

    – Steven Epstein

    Steven Epstein is an American record producer. He has won 16 Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammys, and has been nominated 35 times. He has won Grammy Awards for Classical Producer of the Year seven times. While he is primarily known for his work in classical music, Epstein has Grammy nominations and wins for albums in musical theater, musical show, crossover, soundtrack, and spoken word for children.

  • “I consider Gary Eskow to be the American Ravel. He has an ability to shift between melodic, harmonic and contrapuntal realms in a way that is unique. Although “The Woodstock Chronicles” has many atonal elements, Eskow’s love and understanding of popular music make it quite accessible to the ear. A masterpiece”

    – Christopher Johnson, pianist

  • “Tart, witty, and consistently interesting.”

     – Michael Redmond, critic

  • “Gary Eskow’s “The Woodstock Chronicles” is impressive, and fun to hear. It has a classical approach, but goes through multiple styles including jazz, soul, minimalism, multi-tonal, and makes reference to a number of classic masters. Check it out!”

    – David Kahne, producer, Paul McCartney, The Bangles

  • “Now this (“The Woodstock Chronicles”)  I LOVE! Congrats!”

    – Ron Levy, pianist
    founding member, Palisades Virtuosi