The 18-piece Afro-Cuban jazz big band New Regency Orchestra set out their stall last year with an electrifying debut self-titled album. Inspired by the musical fusion that bubbled up in NYC in the 1950s, they breathe fresh life into this golden era with a host of London’s best contemporary Latin and jazz musicians.

Recording an album with such an abundance of players meant there was a wealth of multitrack stems accumulated from the recording sessions. NRO’s artistic director, Lex Blondin and Mr Bongo thought what better way to utilise this archive of music, than to offer up the parts so that anyone could try their hand at a remix. The winner would have their remix released on Mr Bongo. An incredible range of remixes were submitted from all over the world with all manner of different genres in the mix. It was a tough decision but one stood out from the rest…

More than a simple remix, The Process (aka Jonny Cuba & Ollie Teeba) alongside Washington emcee J Scienide, have totally flipped NRO’s track ‘Pregon’. In true hip-hop fashion, they’ve picked a small section, put their stamp on it, and made it their own. Chopping and sampling the horns in expert style, they’ve layered them over a brand-new beat that channels the golden age boom bap sound. It’s the perfect foundation for J Scienide to step up to the mic, with a flow that takes the track to stratospheric heights.

As Lex Blondin mentions, “Listening to all the remixes coming back was so much fun. A big thanks to all who have participated, there were some really great remixes, but we have a clear winner here. The Process with J Scienide, who remixed our intro track called Pregon, takes it away! Originally written by Chico O'Farrill as the opener of 2nd Afro Cuban Suite, this track was begging for a backbeat and the way they've flipped it gives it just the bop it needed. This remix is pure boom bap goodness...I love how they've chopped up the horn line and peppered it around the chorus. Class work!”

London-based production duo, The Process, are no strangers to the world of music. Both Jonny and Ollie have been pioneers of underground UK music for years, coming up in the mid-1990s as DJs and artists on Ninja Tune. Ollie, being a member of the iconic Ninja Tune band The Herbaliser, and working with emcees such as MF Doom, Roots Manuva, and Rodney P. Jonny, as a partner in Dynamic Syncopation working with the likes of Phi Life Cypher, Chill Rob G, and Mass Influence and going on to form the group Soundsci. On this remix, they are joined by emcee J Scienide whose pedigree has seen him collaborate with hip hop heavyweights on the mic and production, including DJ D Styles (Beat Junkies), Daringer (Griselda Records/Action Bronson), Conway the Machine, Blu, Rome Streetz, and Kev Brown.


Pregon (The Process with J Scienide - Out in the World Remix)

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