About
Moshe Sobol is a professional musician, drummer, percussionist, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in the state of New York. Moshe’s musical pedigree runs in the family. His father was a master clarinetist, concert producer, and educator and his mother is a concert pianist and teacher who continues to make contributions to the field of music education for special learners.
In June 2023, Moshe was featured in Mishpacha Magazine, with his diverse musical journey shared across 10 pages.
Moshe was featured in the NY Times Metropolitan Section in February 2023 in a comprehensive, beautifully written article on many cultures and subcultures of people harnessing the power of music to come together.
Moshe Sobol Band live at CAY Nov, 23, 2022
Moshe began playing drums at the age of 3 and formally studying at the age of 8.
Dad on claves, Moshe on drums and brother Aaron soaking in the rhythm
When he was 16 years old, he went on an exchange program and studied the culture and music of South Africa. Here he was influenced to become a fully expressive musician; drumming, singing, dancing, and mallet playing. The power of rhythm to unite people, the simple and supportive joys of the communal experience, and the limitless decompartmentalized presentation of the music making process were the raw ingredients that eventually drew Moshe to the field of music therapy.
Moshe graduated from the New School University's Mannes College of Jazz and Contemporary Music program in 2002 with a BFA while obtaining a Creative Arts Therapy Certificate under the direction of Dr. Louise Montello. He has studied percussion with Bobby Sanabria, Charlie Perry, Charli Persip, Joe Chambers, Joe Ascione, Vanderlai Pereira, Robby Ameen, Chuck Bonfonte, Mike Abbot, Glen Richards, and Kenny Bolds. While in the New School’s Afro-Cuban Jazz band, Moshe had the opportunity to play with Candido Camero, Hilton Ruiz, Ronnie Cuber, Michael Mossman, and Randy Brecker. Moshe has performed with Richie Havens, David Amram, John Zorn, Cyro Baptista, Lew Tabackin, Harold Ousley, and Lonnie Youngblood.
Moshe performing in June 1997 with folk icon Richie Havens (center) and Paul Deano Williams (left) on the Heckscher Park Stage in Huntington, New York.
Moshe has appeared on the Carson Daly Show and has performed at Madison Square Garden, Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, BB Kings, Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, Joe’s Pub, the Stone, Windows on the World, the Supper Club, the Nuyorican Poet's Café, Swing 46, and the Louis Armstrong Legacy House hosted by Arvell Shaw. Moshe has recorded on albums including Zion80’s “Zion80” the music of Shlomo Carlebach, “Adramelech” the music of John Zorn, Matisyahu's grammy nominated "Youth" and "Arise… Shake off the Dust", the Yalloppin Hounds, "New Yalloppin City", "Lindy-Hop Deluxe", "The Architect " and Rayzd, "Fear is the Mind Killer."
Moshe brings out Grammy-nominated quartet to seniors in White Plains, February 2007.
“Latin Rhythms For Life,” Moshe plays congas with Bobby Sanabria and his Quarteto Aché. Drum Magazine, June 2007
Moshe has been featured in "DRUM!" Magazine, the "Journal News," and "Preserving Your Memory" Magazine in the spring of 2008.
Moshe performs a benefit concert featuring conga legend and NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero, November 2009.
Moshe demonstrated his interactive drum facilitation ability in "Rhythmic Activities for Everyday Care", an instructional DVD sponsored by the New York State Department of Health, in collaboration with the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function. The DVD was distributed to over 600 nursing homes in NYS.
Moshe Sobol has had a fruitful career playing drums and percussion with legendary musicians from Richie Havens (Woodstock 69), David Amram, and Candido Camero, to contemporary artists including Matisyahu, Zion 80, Eitan Katz, Zusha, and more. He first started musically exploring his Jewish roots with his band "Shem's Disciples" from 2007-2011.
Moshe was the percussionist in Afrobeat band Zion80 which the NY Times has called “A Truly Soulful Experience” and has toured internationally with this “Marvelous Mashup” as called by the Village Voice.
And now, the “Moshe Sobol Band" is combining genres from Jazz to Hip Hop to Afro-Caribbean music into a presentation of deeply rooted Torah ideals with sounds, rhythms, melodies, and chants from the Middle East to New York, that will bring the ancient Hebrew texts to full vitality!