Sharp Notes January 27 2001

Phat and skinny. Those waiting to hear OutKast protégé Slimm Calhoun’s debut will have to sit tight. The album’s release date, which has already been postponed once, is now set for April. The Skinny features the hit single “It’s OK,” as well as performances from OutKast and Goodie Mob.
Atlanta folks made a nice showing in this year’s top blues honors, the W.C. Handy Awards. Hotshot guitarist Sean Costello is nominated for his Cuttin’ In disc, as is Beverly Watkins, for her CD Back in Business. Both are competing in the Best New Artist Debut field. Although not nominated himself, CL’s blues columnist Bryan Powell wrote the liner notes for James Harman’s Mo’ Na’kins, Please, which is up for Historical Album of the Year.
New revelations. R.E.M. debuted two tracks from their forthcoming Reveal album while performing at Brazil’s Rock in Rio festival. “She Just Wants to Be” and “The Lifting” were included in the 19 song, two-hour set that touched on tunes from every phase of the band’s career. Michael Stipe commented that the crowd, estimated at 190,000, was the largest the group had ever played for.
The envelope please. Atlanta based mega-producer Matt Serletic was nominated for a Grammy in the prominent Producer of the Year category for his work on songs from Celine Dion and gospel singer Leigh Nash, as well as albums from Angie Aparo and Matchbox 20.