New Regency Orchestra – Papa Boco / Mango Walk

‘Papa Boco’ and ‘Mango Walk’ (Release Date: May 1st, 2024) combine to create the second radio single taken from New Regency Orchestra’s self-titled forthcoming debut album on Mr Bongo. An 18-piece Afro-Cuban jazz big band, inspired by the musical melting pot of NYC in the 1950s, but with the punch and power of a whole host of London’s best Latin and jazz musicians.

With this double A-side single, NRO showcase their contemporary dynamism with reinterpretations of two Afro-Cuban gems. ‘Papa Boco’, reimagines Manuel Sánchez Acosta’s salsa sensation, taking inspiration from a 1962 arrangement made by bandleader and timbales maestro, Orlando Marin.

Keeping the essence of Marin’s arrangement, NRO add their explosive flair to proceedings. An Afro-Cuban-flavoured warmth washes over you from the off, with Latin percussion and a swell of peaking horns. Stepping forth, Jose Cesar’s commanding vocals give a distinctive depth to the recording that sets it apart from Marin’s version.

With bandleader Eliane Correa on the keys and at the helm, the salsa energy is amplified through her scintillating and syncopated chords. As the track peaks the groove swaps from 4’s to 3’s for the breakdown slipping into sensuous territory before bursting back into the dynamism of full orchestra’s power.

‘Mango Walk’ gives another dose of the unquestionable energy New Regency Orchestra bring to the fore, with a modern interpretation of a 1950’s London Latin jazz stormer from Kenny Graham’s Afro-Cubists.

It’s a punchy, vibrant take on the ‘50s track, with NRO flipping the script writing an alternative bassline to steer away from the original swing and give it an Afrobeat treatment. Fiery and fast-paced, this horn-powered dance finds its foundation in a swell of claps, congas, bongos, and driving drumbeats. A masterful interplay between the drums and keys in the breakdown then turns the dial up even further on this short, sharp cut that is brimming with Latin spark and dancefloor power.