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.
BOBBY SANABRIA MULTIVERSE BIG BAND
RHYTHM:
Bobby Sanabria – drums, musical director, vocals
Oreste Abrantes – congas
Matthew Gonzalez – bongó/cencerro, vocals
Takao Heisho – percussion
Darwin Noguera – piano
Leo Traversa – bass
TRUMPETS:
Kevin Bryan
Shareef Clayton
Max Darché
Andrew Neesley
SAXOPHONES:
David Dejesus – alto, soprano, flute
Andrew Gould – alto, flute
Peter Brainin – tenor, flute
Jeff Lederer – tenor, clarinet, flute
Danny Rivera – bari
TROMBONES:
Dave Miller
Tim Session
Armando Vergara
Chris Washburne
FLUTE, PICCOLO:
Gabrielle Garo
ELECTRIC VIOLIN:
Ben Sutin
New CD
"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
Read Marc's review HERE
West Side Story Reimagined is now LIVE on
AMAZON
ITUNES
SPOTIFY!
What The Press Is Saying About
“West Side Story Reimagined”
"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.
Travis Rogers, Jr. is The Jazz Owl
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band
“West Side Story Reimagined”
(Jazzheads JH1231)
Street Date: 07/20/2018
www.jazzheads.com
MUSICIANS:
Multiverse Big Band TRUMPETS Kevin Bryan – lead Shareef Clayton Max Darché Andrew Neesley SAXOPHONES David Dejesus- lead alto, soprano, flute Andrew Gould – alto, flute Peter Brainin- tenor, flute Yaacov Mayman – tenor, flute, clarinet Danny Rivera – baritone TROMBONES David Miller – lead Tim Sessions Armando Vergara Chris Washburne- bass FLUTE, PICCOLO Gabrielle Garo ELECTRIC VIOLIN Ben Sutin RHYTHM Bobby Sanabria – musical director, drums, whistle, lead vocals, coro Darwin Noguera – piano Leo Taversa – electric bass Oreste Abrantes – congas, itotele batá drum, coro Matthew Gonzalez – bongo/cencerro, primo bomba drum, Iyá bata, requinto pandereta, ganza, coro Takao Heisho – Cuban guiro macho, Dominican guira, Puerto Rican guicharro clave, okonkolo batá drum, maracas (Cuban and Venezuelan),
shekere, tambourine, cuica, pandeiro, triangle, gong
Recorded live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in NYC, this exciting new reimagining is West Side Story like you’ve never heard it before as performed by the amazing multi-Grammy nominated 21 piece Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band. This set includes an accompanying 16 page booklet containing rare photographs of Maestro Leonard Bernstein, along with the timeless music of West Side Story featuring the rhythms of various Latin American countries with exciting breaking-down-the-wall instrumental big band arrangements all done through the lens of the Latin jazz continuum.
It’s the most ambitious reimagining of the music I have ever heard!”
– Jamie Bernstein
Partial proceeds from this special commemorative set will be donated to the Jazz Foundation of America's Puerto Rico Relief Fund. The island has been completely devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria and the government’s response has been less than adequate. What better way to help my ancestral homeland Puerto Rico and its people, than through the music of West Side Story Reimagined. – Bobby Sanabria
Upcoming Live Appearances
August 28, 2018
Salsa Fest presents Clave The Key w/ Bobby Sanabria
NYU, 3pm
September 6, 2018
Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Aché
Worlwide Plaza, NYC
noon – FREE!!!
