Bobby Sanabria West Side Story Reimagined

Bobby Sanabria
West Side Story Reimagined
Jazzheads

Drummer and bandleader Sanabria leads his 21 piece big band in a joyous celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s classic musical. Recorded in performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center in  2017, a little more than 60 years after “West Side Story” premiered and during of centennial of Bernstein, the musical also has a personal connection to Sanabria given his growing up in a gang-filled Bronx.

This backdrop would be of little importance if the big band rearrangement of Bernstein’s marvelous music. There are plenty of superb soloists present including Christopher Washburne’s trombone and Andrew Gould’s alto sax on “America,” but the real stars are the arrangers including Jeff Lederer on this as well as Niko Siebold on “Jet Song.” The writing often has the sections playing against each other as well as restating the musical themes and tempo shifts whether having a segment evoking a rollicking jump blues followed one sounding like a marching band. This recording is like listening to a jubilant musical carousel.

The delight of the rendition of “Gee, Officer Krupke,” the lyricism of Matt Wong’s arrangement of “Tonight,” and the kaleidoscope of moods provided the arrangement by Takao Heisho for “The Rumble/ Rumba,” are some further examples of the enthralling performances here. This is a terrific release. Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band are performing this music on tour, including a performance at the Kennedy Center next season.

The addition of Latin rhythmic grooves, the sheer exuberance of the stellar performance and Sanabria’s brief narrations introducing certain numbers incorporating lyrics or with respect to “America,” where he notes the realities of discrimination facing Puerto Rican’s and other immigrant/migrant communities. This includes the lack of adequate assistance to Puerto Rican after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. If the magnificent music was not sufficient reason to purchase this, part of ether proceeds will be used to help in the Puerto Rican recovery. 

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review has appeared in the July-August 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 379). Here is a video Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band with special guest Candido performing "Manteca," at a benefit for Puerto Rico.

Gabriele Tranchina's Wondrous Multilingual Songs of Love's Color

European-raised New York-based Gabriele Tranchina brings love of our multi-cultural and interconnected world, a distinct musical sensibility and a multilingual talent to center stage on her new release, “A Song Of Love’s Color” (Jazzheads). At a relatively early age she was introduced to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Chick Corea’s “Return to Forever” with singer Flora Purim, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, music which left a deep imprint on her and reflected in her music today. On “A Song Of Love’s Color,” she performs 11 songs in six languages and vocalise, which her publicity materials describe as a mix of lead and harmonized vocals, RAP, recitation, chant and descant, and backed by a band that includes her husband, Joe Vincent Tranchina, on piano and backing vocals; Santi Debriano on bass; Renato Thoms on percussion and backing vocals; Bobby Sanabria on drums, percussion and backing vocals; and Roberta Sanabria on backing vocals.

She has such a delightful voice as evident from the opening “Chante Comme Si Tu Devais Mourir Demain,” matched to the lively Brazilian rhythms which explode towards the performances finish. Her husband contributed the lovely latin-spiced title song about rainbows. “Samba De Uma Nota So,” (“One Note Samba”) is one of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s most famous songs which she delivers with seeming effortless delivery but her pitch and her sense of timing is flawless including an interlude with a spoken rap-like delivery over smoldering percussion. The ballad “Today,” opens languidly to match the opening lyrics about sad reminiscences before the tempo livens up as someone catches her eye. “Sing a Song Of Children,” is a thoughtful celebration about the songs, laughter and joy of childhood, that stands out even in this strong release. Another Jobim song, “Inutil Paisagem,” has a lovely, languid vocal with a solid bass interlude from Debriano. 

An indication of the varied material her is her Husband’s adaptation of a Hindu prayer and chant, “Asato Maa (Sat Chit Ananda),” with a light latin rhythm as she sings about being led from untruth to truth and ignorance to wisdom.” “Duérmete Niño Bonito,” is an enchanting performance of a Spanish folk lullaby (that will sound familiar to some) to which Joe Vincent Tranchina has added English lyrics and music. “Voz,” is a mesmerizing, salsa-flavored wordless vocal with the percussion of Thomas and Sanabria standing out along with Jon Vincent’s firm, yet understated piano. Thomas, Sanabria and Joe Vincent collaborated on “Solamente Pasión,” with a crisp salsa flavor as she delivers a chorus of “El amor solamente pasión” (“Love is only passion”), against the rap of the band members before the closing “Siehst Du Mich,” a German poem set to music by Jon Vincent with a lovely arco bass solo.

“A Song Of Love’s Color” is a wonderful release that is sure to charm listeners with not only Gabriele Tranchina’s lovely voice, but her wonderful expressiveness and the tight playing in support of her. This is a recording that easily lends itself to repeated listening. Her website is http://www.gabrieletranchina.com/, from which it can be purchased. An earlier cd of hers is available on cdbaby.com so one might expect it to be available there. It is available on itunes and from amazon.com.


This review originally appeared in the July 2010 Jazz & Blues Report (issue 327) at page 8. A publicist provided the review copy.