West Side Story Reimagined

''West Side Story Reimagined'', Nominated as ''Best Latin Jazz Album'' for the 2019 Grammy Awards!

An exciting new Latin Jazz reworking of West Side Story by Multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria's MULTIVERSE Big Band!

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

''It's the most ambitious re-imagining of the music I have ever heard!''

Jamie Bernstein (Leonard Bernstein's daughter)

''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 Magazine