Bobby Sanabria Reimagines West Side Story

Maria Hinojosa talks to the drummer and composer about what the iconic musical means to him and how he paid tribute to its legacy.

In 2017, the Broadway classic West Side Story celebrated its 60th anniversary and to honor this milestone, Latin Jazz drummer and composer Bobby Sanabria re-envisioned the soundtrack to what Latino New York City actually sounds like. The result was West Side Story Reimagined.

In the album, Sanabria and his Multiverse Big Band infused classic numbers like “Tonight” and “America” with Latin Jazz and Samba.

Growing up as a Nuyorican kid in the Bronx, Sanabria first watched West Side Story in the movie theaters, ten years after the musical was adapted to film in 1961. “I was mesmerized,” said Sanabria.

Maria Hinojosa talks to the drummer and composer about what the iconic musical means to him and how he paid tribute to its legacy.

Featured image of Bobby Sanabria by Gabriel Moreno.

This piece originally aired in September of 2018.