For several years now, Radiohead has enjoyed steadily growing popularity in jazz circles: Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter and Robert Glasper, among others, have radically reinterpreted songs by the English quintet. On "Head Radio Retransmissions", the German label ESC Records now presents a fascinating compilation of 25 tracks that also illuminate the Radiohead phenomenon from a jazz perspective, including a cover version of Thom Yorke's "Analysis" as well as three original compositions by the participating artists (excellent: "House Without A Door" by the Le Boeuf Brothers). The following musicians are especially worth mentioning: Bob Reynolds recorded "Creep" as a pseudo saxophone trio in an overdub, Julio Resende transcends "Airbag" and sometimes reaches into the inside of the piano, Jake Sharp brings "Karma Police" as a relaxed bossa number in Bill Friselle style and the emoticons give "No Surprises" the necessary momentum. Yuri Honing's version of "Paranoid Android" is absolutely world class, with arranger Vince Mendoza providing chamber music intimacy and orchestral verve.
