Adapted from the Broadway musical, the story centers on a bodega owner, Usnavi , who discovers his mom-and-pop stop-and-shop has sold a winning lottery ticket.
Gone are “Sunrise,” sung by Nina and Benny after they spend a night together, and “Hundreds of Stories,” a duet between Usnavi and Abuela Claudia as they sing about what they’ll do with the lottery money.
The good news is, despite those omissions, which were done to fit the movie’s run time, the album is still a scorcher.
is delightful as Usnavi, narrating the story for audiences and listeners in the opening number, “In the Heights.” His voice is crisp from beginning to end whether rapping or singing.
The fantasy number is another ensemble piece in which everyone gets the chance to imagine what they would do with that winning lottery money.
The movie version not only holds on to the suspense of who won a tad longer, but the song also comes moments before she passes away and is a reflection on the sacrifices made for her to emigrate and portrays her arrival in America.
On a lighter note, the salon ladies who are mistresses of hair, nails and gossip are led by Daphne Rubin-Vega who steps into the role of Daniela.
It’s in “Carnaval del Barrio” where listeners should turn the volume up as the energy of the musical hits as high as it can go.
Miranda makes his cameo and gifts listeners with “Home All Summer,” performed by stars Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, and Marc Anthony.