JANET JACKSON - STARS TEAM UP FOR VANDROSS TRIBUTE ALBUM

JANET JACKSON, MARIAH CAREY, MARY J BLIGE, CELINE DION and ANGIE STONE are among a host of stars who are taking part in a LUTHER VANDROSS tribute album.

Although a jazz tribute album honouring Vandross was released last year (04), the new project, which was dreamed up by music mogul CLIVE DAVIS, will be more of a direct translation of the soul veteran's work.

Producer JIMMY 'JAM' HARRIS says, "Mariah and Janet both called and said they were interested in doing something for it.

"This is really the best of the best singers coming together. It's going to be an incredible project.

"It's basically artists doing Luther Vandross songs, but they're doing them their way. Some of the arrangements are very similar to Luther's arrangements."

Vandross suffered a debilitating stroke almost two years ago.