John Sobol Poetry Band
Blue History
1991

A CD I released of my poetry band, featuring:

Eric St.Laurent: bass
Peter Valsamis: Drums
Brian Hurley: Bass
John Sobol: sax and vocals

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

some MP3s from the CD...

Love Poems
General Alarm
Blue History

"Sobol's project is to be in the world but not of it; to revere sex and despise whores; to be an 'anti-citizen' and member of the the voluptuous world."
-- Option Magazine

  


 

Corry Sobol Sextet
Streetcar Tracks
1991

Corry Sobol - Vocals/Arrangements
Hugh Fraser - Trombone
Dave Young - Bass
Barry Elmes - Drums
Phil Dwyer - Tenor Sax
Richard Whiteman - Piano/Arrangements

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

some MP3s from the CD...

I Just Dropped By to Say Hello
The Thrill Is Gone
Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
Givin' In Blues

"A bundle of unlimited potential...Corry Sobol is a name well worth remembering."
CODA Magazine

 
 

Michael Donovan & Michael McMahon
Chansons Civilisées
1992

Michael Donovan - Voice
Michael McMahon - Piano

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

Songs by:

Harry Somers
Frederic Rzewski
Francis Poulenc
Hanns Eisler
Hermann Reuter

"The smoothness of Donnovan's Voice as well as his clear diction and apt deliveries are impressive. He and pianist Michael McMahon form a fine team."
Arthur Kaptanis, Montreal Gazette

  
 

Songposts Vol. 1
1992

new jazz songs by:

Sheila Jordan/Harvie Swartz
Jay Clayton/Kirk Nurock
Georgia Ambros
Paula Owen
Steve Lacy/Irene Aebi
Jeannette Lambert
Corry Sobol/Dave Young
Garbo's Hat
Jeanne Lee
Anne LeBaron Ensemble
David Drazin

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

"There's a lot to savour here...It's good, listenable, fresh, and not just for lovers of jazz records."
Option Magazine

  
 

Bittersweet Canada
1992

 17 songs about life in Canada under the hardhearted rule of Brian Mulroney's neo-cons written and sung by:

Norm Hacking
Grievous Angels
Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Lazy Grace (w/Jason Collett)
Rhythm Activism
Eileen McGann
Kevin J. Arsenault
Cat Eat Dog
Great Western Orchestra
Cate Friesen
Diana Braithwaite (w/Big Sugar)
Jamie Dopp
Kathleeen Yearwood
Kurt Swinghammer

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

"One of the most remarkable musical documents to emerge from Canada's current recessionary doldrums...a proactive package of modern protest songs."
Canadian Composer Magazine

The CD also included a lengthy essay by journalist Rick Salutin about the role of art in troubled times.

  
 

Garbo's Hat
Face the Music
1993


Kate Hammett-Vaughn - Vocals
Paul Blaney - Bass
Graham Ord - Sax

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

"Hammett-Vaughn's wide range and appealing voice makes Garbo's Hat one of the most interesting new music groups around."
Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

  
 

Jeanne Lee & David Eyges
Here and Now
1994

Jeanne Lee - Vocals
David Eyges - Cello

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

"Jeanne Lee's dusky vocals and David Eyges' spare, dry cello are a potent combination. Lee and Eyges never sound forced. If anything, there's a sense of elegance and delicacy to these improvisations which suggest poetry or Asian painting. Here and Now is recommended without reservation."
Cadence Magazine

click to hear the song Rain from the CD

here is a lovely tribute to Jeanne Lee, who passed away in 2000, by New York writer Margaret Davis

  
 

Guillermo Gómez-Peña
Borderless Radio (2CDs)
1995

Co-Produced by John Sobol and Greg Clarke

This double CD gathers together most of the audio peformance pieces that Guillermo Gómez-Peña wrote and produced for National Public Radio in the early 1990s. These projects were created in collaboration with many people including Coco Fusco, Joe Lambert, David Schein, Lenny Persky and Elizabeth Perez-Luna, among others.