News on Sean Puffy Combs, Faith Evans, Kelly Price, Carl Thomas, Brandy, Brian McKnight, J Mascis, Mike Watt, Ron Asheton, Stooges, Joe Henry, Ornette Coleman, Madonna, Marc Ribot, Brad Mehldau, Jeffe
Embattled rapper/producer Sean "Puffy" Combs and minister/artist Hezekiah Walker have compiled a contemporary gospel collection for release on Combs' Arista-distributed Bad Boy label. Dubbed "Thank You," and due out June 5, the album includes contributions from Faith Evans, Kelly Price, Carl Thomas, Brandy, Brian McKnight, Walker, and more.
The album's first single will be "You," on which Evans is joined by Thomas, Walker, 112, Mario "Yellowman" Winans, Thelma Guyton, Asia & Ashley, Cheri Dennis, and Tammy Ruggeri. The song, like much of the album, was produced and co-written by Combs and Winans. Others who wrote and/or produced tracks include Brandy, Rodney Jerkins, Joe, Hammond, Warryn "Baby Dub Campbell, and Stevie J.
News of the release comes amidst Combs' ongoing high-profile New York trial for gun possession and bribery, as well the recent debut of his latest Sean Jean fashion line.
-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
A underground rock supergroup of sorts will take to the stage March 15, as former Stooges guitarist/bassist Ron Asheton joins J Mascis and the Fog for a performance at the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Mascis' band already includes underground icon Mike Watt, former bassist with the Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Asheton had previously joined the Fog onstage at a February 2 show in Ann Arbor, Mich. A spokesperson for Ultimatum, Mascis' record label, says Asheton has not yet been confirmed for additional dates on the band's tour, which wraps up May 5 in Portland, Ore., but "we're keeping our fingers crossed." The former Dinosaur Jr. principal is touring in support of the Fog's "More Light" album, which features guest spots from My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields and Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard.