In The Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Broadway hasn't been very good at incorporating various strands of pop and rock over the past 40 years. Most of the shows attempting that draw from contemporary chart sounds have felt awkward, rather than "young." It's all the more rewarding, then, that 2008 saw not one but two successful efforts - Passing Strange and In the Heights. The latter, set in New York's predominantly Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights, is propelled by first-timer Lin-Manuel Miranda's high-energy, horn-and-percussion-driven score. Miranda managed to modernize classic elements found in most Broadway shows by mixing them up with Latin and hip-hop arrangements. "In the Heights" and "The Club" are joyous ensemble numbers, for instance, while "Carnaval del Barrio" is an uplifting eleven o'clock belt, "Sunrise" a romantic duet and "Everything I Know" a sentimental soliloquy. While Miranda himself convincingly plays the lead, this is a true ensemble piece. The CD snaps, crackles and pops with stellar performances (special props to Mandy Gonzalez, Karen Olivo and the funny, brassy Andréa Burns). -- Elisabeth Vincentelli