Growing up as a Nuyorican kid in the Bronx, Bobby Sanabria first watched "West Side Story" in the movie theaters, on the 10th anniversary of the film's release. "I was mesmerized," said the Latin Jazz drummer and composer. Last year, "West Side Story" celebrated its 60th anniversary and to honor this milestone, Sanabria re-envisioned what Latino New York City actually sounds like. The result was his album, "West Side Story Reimagined." Maria Hinojosa talks to the drummer and composer about what the iconic musical means to him and how he paid tribute to its legacy.
Led by 7X Grammy nominee as a leader - drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, educator, activist Bobby Sanabria's 21 piece Multiverse Big Band is a musical juggernaut that easily straddles multiple worlds from complex concert repertoire to hardcore dance music. All of their CD's have been Grammy nominated and their new double CD release, WEST SIDE STORY REIMAGINED, a total Latin jazz reworking of Maestro Leonard Bernstein's iconic score, is proving to be their greatest work being hailed by the critics as a masterpiece. Partial proceeds from its sale go to the Jazz Foundation of America's Puerto Rican Hurricane Relief Fund for musicians. This upcoming concert at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park will feature excerpts from West Side Story Reimagined as well as new works covering everything from salsa, samba, bomba, bossa, funk, Latin boogaloo and more fused with jazz and the majesty of the big band for an explosive end of summer dance party.
"There’s every reason to hope that Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” will improve upon the 1961 film, but I doubt if we’ll ever hear a more thrilling interpretation of that immortal score than that of the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band."
Will Friedwald - Wall Street Journal
"Congrats on the album of the year!."
Marc Myers - Jazz Wax
"It’s the most ambitious reimagining of the music I have ever heard!”
Jamie Bernstein
"You have never heard such an ambitious, complex, and satisfying remake of that classic. Sanabria, an amazing drummer, draws deep from his Puerto Rican heritage to give this Leonard Bernstein masterpiece a roots-authentic update that’s heavy on Latin jazz influences and full of peppy, energetic rhythms."
Tom Henry - Toledo Blade
"Among other things, it’s a master class in Latin rhythms. Just get it."
Ken McCarthy - Jazz on the Tube
"If you're a fan of either Latin jazz or West Side Story, this album is a feast of those flavors."
Marc Phillips - thevinylanarchist.com/blogspot
"The infusion of Latin rhythms that Mr. Sanabria uses is a big part of what makes this album so stunning."
Dick Metcalf - Contemporary Fusion Reviews
"It’s a love letter to Bernstein as well as a reclamation, tracing his evocation back to the source."
Nate Chinen - WBGO
"A triumphant, Latin-flavored reimagining of Leonard Bernstein’s masterwork West Side Story."
Bill Milkowski - Downbeat
"A captivating and fulfilling recording that more than reimagines this enduring masterpiece."
Pierre Giroux - Audiophile Audition
"West Side Story Reimagined is Bobby’s retelling of the story in his way, seen through the eyes of love and gratitude and, often, uncertainty.
As Bobby says, this is “a reimagining from the perspective of a Jazz musician, a Latin musician, and a native Nuyorican son who is proud to say he is from the city that defines aché, hipness, and cool.” Aché is Energy.
In my review of Bobby’s album, Multiverse, I said that “Bobby is a prophet of life.” That was never truer than with West Side Story Reimagined."
''Bobby Sanabria is equally adept at the swinging big band sounds of drummers Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson along with another boyhood hero, fusion pioneer Billy Cobham and timbale titan Tito Puente.''
Bill Milkowski --JazzTimes
''... (Mr. Sanabria) expands the possibilities, moving the sound of bands like that of (Puente, Machito), with all the heft and intricacy and clavebased dance rhythm, into the harmonically oriented sophistication of current New York jazz players. It's New York up and down, and back and forth across the last century, from the street to the mambo palaces to the conservatories.''
Ben Ratliff --The New York Times
Hi Bobby Sanabria here! Two years ago I came up with the idea of re-arranging the music from Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece West Side Story and performing it with my Multiverse Big Band, but in a way that has never been done before: a complete Latin jazz reworking of the entire score in celebration of the show's recent 60th anniversary and Maestro Bernstein's centennial. However, besides paying tribute to the composer and the music, I saw this as an opportunity to give back and help my ancestral homeland Puerto Rico. As most of us know, hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged the island of Puerto Rico, leaving its residents unable to recover. Puerto Ricans have been American citizens since 1917, and the government's response has been unsatisfactory at best. Six months later, entire communities are still living without food, water, power, and other basic needs we take for granted. I realized the best way I could help was through my music. What better way to portray the struggles and hardships of the people of Puerto Rico than West Side Story? We are dedicating this recording to the musical genius of Leonard Bernstein and donating proceeds from this special commemorative 2 CD set to the Jazz Foundation of America Puerto Rico Relief Fund. This is a cause many of us are passionate about and every bit of generosity helps. Recorded live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in NYC, this exciting new reworking is West Side Story like you've never heard it before, through the exciting lens of the Latin jazz continuum. This project is being produced with the blessing and support of the Leonard Bernstein Organization. Bernstein's daughter Jamie remarked: ''What I love about Bobby Sanabria's take on ''West Side Story'' music is that it's a kind of rhythm fission: my dad's music is already so drenched in rhythm. Then along comes Bobby and explodes it to an even richer rhythmic level!'' Bobby Sanabria
Disc 1
1. Intro
2. Prologue
3. Intro Jet Song
4. Jet Song
5. Intro America
6. America
7. Gee, Officer Krupke Intro
8. Gee, Officer Krupke
9. Tonight
10. Gym Scene - Blues/Mambo
11. Gym Scene - Cha Cha Cha
Disc 2
1. Maria
2. Intro Cool
3. Cool
4. The Rumble /Rumba
5. One Hand, One Heart
6. Somewhere
7. Intro Epilogue/Finale
8. Epilogue/Finale
9. Outro
BOBBY SANABRIA MULTIVERSE BIG BAND
Trumpets: Kevin Bryan, Shareef Clayton, Max Darchè, Andrew Neesley
Saxophones: David Dejesus (alto, clarinet, soprano, flute), Andrew Gould (alto, soprano, flute), Peter Brainin
(tenor, flute), Jeff Lederer (tenor, flute), Danny Rivera (baritone, bass clarinet)
Trombones: Dave Miller, Tim Sessions, Armando Vergara, Chris Washburne (tuba also)
Flute/Piccolo: Gabrielle Garo
Electric Violin: Ben Sutin
Rhythm: Silvano Monasterios (piano), Leo Traversa (electric bass), Oreste Abrantes (congas), Matthew Gonzalez
(bongó/cencerro, baríl de bomba), Takao Heisho (percussion), Bobby Sanabria (drums)
Jazzheads is proud to announce the release of West Side Story Reimagined by Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band on July 20, 2018. Proceeds from the project will be given to Jazz Foundation of America Puerto Rico Relief Fund. West Side Story Reimagined is an ambitious interpretation of the entire score of Maestro Bernstein's masterpiece, all done with a Latin jazz approach. This double CD, celebrating the Maestro's Centennial, will include a 16 page booklet with detailed liner notes and rare photos. We are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to complete the production. Contributions through the Kickstarter campaign, as well as a percentage from the purchase of this commemorative package will go to the relief efforts in Puerto Rico which is still struggling to recover from two devastating hurricanes last fall.
From Multi-Grammy Award nominated Bobby Sanabria: Hi, Bobby Sanabria here! Two years ago I came up with the idea of re-arranging the music from Leonard Bernstein'smasterpiece West Side Story and performing it with my Multiverse Big Band, but in a way that has never been done before: a complete Latin jazz reworking of the entire score in celebration of the show’s recent 60th anniversary and Maestro Bernstein’s centennial. However, besides paying tribute to the composer and the music, I saw this as an opportunity to give back and help my ancestral homeland Puerto Rico. As most of us know, hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged the island of Puerto Rico, leaving its residents unable to recover. Puerto Ricans have been American citizens since 1917, and the government's response has been unsatisfactory at best. Six months later, entire communities are still living without food, water, power, and other basic needs we take for granted. I realized the best way I could help was through my music. What better way to portray the struggles and hardships of the people of Puerto Rico than West Side Story? This is a cause many of us are passionate about and every bit of generosity helps. Recorded live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in NYC, this exciting new reworking is West Side Story like you’ve never heard it before, through the exciting lens of the Latin jazz continuum.
