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Originally produced and recorded in the mid-nineties by the ‘That’s How It Is!’ Core band, Andrew Missingham (drums), Ike Leo (bass) and Ski Oakenfull (keys) these tracks had the added bonus of some seriously jazzy friends such as Flora Purim, Chris Bowden, Dennis Rollins and Rowland Sutherland.

The six tracks seem worlds away in many respects to “The Last Ever” ‘That’s How It Is! but at the same time, I still love those spacey synths, the big brass and the manic Latin percussion and the spirit jazz vibe. The best example is the opening track, ‘Bald Head’ featuring Chris Bowden and the flute of Sutherland and a modal jazz dancer, where all of the players get a piece of the action. Cut short on the vinyl and no doubt went on for hours in the studio.

It’s also worth getting for Flora’s performance on ‘Cuidado!’ She was such an important part of the ‘sound’ of underground jazz-funk in those early days. Only the likes of Peterson could have talked her into leaving Ronnie Scott’s for the afternoon to join the band on the session.

‘Soweto Votes’ is a typical Dingwalls JazzCoTech 100mph dancer that you’d spend hours diggin’ for featuring the saxophone of James McMillan and it’s all-good with the manic percussion of Simon Richmond. The ‘With It’s Feet’ version gets into Africa and is far too short.

The a-side is finished off with Dennis Rollins featuring on a ‘live’ d’n’blues march with the b-side is ends with a short jam that was recorded live at the club.

If you’re lucky, there’s a period poster included designed by Swifty with pictures of the band, regulars and a young Peterson in a baggy cardy!

They said, “That’s How It Is! - An Experimental Eclectic Moment In Time”. Over ten years on, Dennis Rollins is still one of the UK’s top trombonist and a regular at Jazz Festivals, Ski had an album out on !K7 last year and Bowden has kept his Peterson links via The Heritage Orchestra. The ‘moment in time’ continues as the tracks on the EP cover the Worldwide sound from Brazil to Africa via London Town jazz heads. Lovin’ it all over again and the music is an exceptionally fine tribute to the club night. Get it whilst you can as copies are limited.

Reviewed: V/A - That’s How It Is! (THIS) Cat. No. LP01 Recorded at The Premises, Hackney 31.3.94 and 2.4.94
Tracklisting
A1 Bald Head
A2 Cuidado!
A3 North London Swagga
B1 Soweto Votes
B2 Soweto Votes (With It’s Feet)
B3 To The Core…(Live at Bar Rumba, 4th April 1994)

Links:
Sounds Of The Universe - That’s How It Is No. 2 with sound clips
The Record Room - www.therecordroom.net sound clip HERE
Bar Rumba [part of the Trocadero complex at Piccadilly Circus, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue]. www.barrumba.co.uk
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club www.ronniescotts.co.uk Reopening June 2006 after a major (its only!) refurbishment.