Sharp Notes November 21 2001

Blues Christmas? Slim Fatz was videotaped during a recent live gig at Jake’s Roadhouse in Decatur. The show is tentatively scheduled for cablecast Christmas Day on Channel 46 in Atlanta.?

Benefit blues. Fatz, along with Forrest McDonald and other members of Atlanta’s blues community, united for a show to benefit Liz Melendez’s family. Her dad passed recently, and the funds raised from the 12-hour event held at Darwin’s went to the Melendez family.?

Out of the closet. R.E.M. re-recorded one of its earliest songs to be included on the soundtrack album for the upcoming Cameron Crowe film Vanilla Sky. “All the Right Friends,” a track originally intended for the band’s 1982 Chronic Town EP, has never been recorded or released. It joins the band’s “Sweetness Follows” on the disc, which also features music from Paul McCartney, Sigur Ros and the Monkees.?

Then and now. OutKast has recorded three new tracks to add to its forthcoming greatest hits album due in stores Dec. 4. Big Boi & Dre Present OutKast features “The Whole Wide World,” a song inspired by the events of Sept. 11. The hip-hop duo recently showed off its new fashion line at Deux Plex with celebrity models that included members of the Dungeon Family. Brian McKnight and Tyrese performed at the party.?

Kriss Kross meets Freaky Friday? Teen hip-hop duo Incredible Crew, featuring brothers Ignacio and Mario Brown, will guest on the television series “A Walk in Your Shoes” on the Noggin Network, a new cable and satellite station. The episode features the group switching places with a country singer and will air in April 2002 on Nickelodeon and Noggin.?

Last lift. “Even If (It is Love),” a song by defunct female rock trio Lift, is featured on the GoGirlsMusicFest 2001 compilation, collected from a series of GoGirls showcases held this fall. Proceeds from the CD’s sale go to help victims of domestic violence.