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A Latin Jazz reworking of West Side Story by Multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria 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!"

Track Listing

Sales Points

• Partial proceeds from this special commemorative set will be donated to the Jazz Foundation of America's Puerto Rico Relief Fund.
• 16 page booklet containing rare photographs and features the rhythms of various Latin American countries, and more with exciting new instrumental arrangements all done through the lens of the Latin jazz continuum.
• Celebrating West Side Story's recent 60th Anniversary (2017)

Press Quotes

''...West Side Story Reimagined'' proves that a jazz rearrangement of a classic show is still a valid concept. (Coincidentally, the Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias also recently released a Latin jazz treatment of the Spanish-flavored ''Man of La Mancha. '') 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

''... (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.''

     —Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

''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