West Side Story: Jazz Impressions / Unique Perspectives (2-CD)

by Various Artists

Collection of West Side Story's greatest musical moments reinterpreted by jazz greats such as Cal Tjader, Stan Kenton, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Oscar Peterson Trio, Andre Previn with Shelly Manne and Red Mitchell, Annie Ross and Gerry Mulligan, Marian McPartland and others. Never before had there been a musical whose protagonists were 'youths of the street whose speech is acrid and ugly', and whose conduct is 'neurotic and savage'. This was not a show meant to entertain and to amuse with a romantic story and lifting music but one of revolt, struggle and tragedy. That it became such an astounding success all over the world is due to the breath-taking sequence of scenes of an ever-changing character and mood, in which melodrama, solo and ensemble singing, dialogue, ballet, and instrumental interludes follow each other in stark dramatic succession.