Nippertown Recording Studio Report

While the winter doldrums slip into a serious case of cabin fever for many of us, a big batch of Nippertown musicians have holed up in their recording studios, working away with uncommon intensity on a wide variety of music that will soon be reaching our fortunate ears.

Here’s a little sampling of some of the sparkling sounds coming our way soon:

BRYAN THOMAS: Fab funky singer-songwriter Thomas is ready to follow-up his 2009 groove fest “1369 Lights” with an equally sharp-edged five-song EP, “Smash to Pieces.” Once again joined by his “band” the Buggy Jive, Thomas is scheduled to release the new disc on Saturday with the Exit Dome IV at the WMHT-TV studios as his CD release party.

ALTA MIRA: The knockout alt-prog quartet is currently in the midst of recording their sophomore full-length album, and there are still a few days to help them out as they try to raise funds through their Kickstarter project.

RAILBIRD: The Saratoga Springs band led by Sarah Pedinotti is releasing their new album, “No One,” on Thursday, February 24. They’ll be celebrating with a CD release party at 431 Delaware Avenue in Albany on Friday, February 25.

JOHN BRODEUR: Power popster Brodeur is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the release of his one-man 2001 album “Tiger Pop” this spring. In celebration, he’s releasing “Tiger Pop Ten,” a double-disc set that features the original CD, as well as a new, recently recorded version of the album plus one bonus song “Masterpiece.” Among the musicians contributing to the new recordings are pianist Adrian Cohen, bassists Keith Hosmer and Jennifer McCarron, drummers Meghan Tully and Jason Schultz and guitarist Eric Halder. Release date is Tuesday, April 5.

BLACK JOHN WAYNE: With tireless scene-booster Ralph Renna at the microphone, BJW is about to drop their debut album, “Serenade of the Black and Blues,” on Saturday, March 5 with a CD release party at Bogie’s. Ashley Pond, Donna Marie Floyd Tritico (Sly Fox & the Hustlers) and La Pissoir (Probing Digit) are among the special guests contributing to the 13-song album which ventures far beyond the usual borders of hardcore.

MICHAEL BENEDICT’S BOPITUDE: Jazz drummer/bandleader Benedict slipped into Cotton Hill Studios last weekend for recording session with an all-star line-up that features trumpeter Chris Pasin, saxman Brian Patneaude, pianist Bruce Barth and bassist Mike Lawrence.

M.R. POULOPOULOS: Half of the fab acoustic duo Palatypus, Poulopoulos has recorded his solo debut at Hilltown Studio in Clarksville. Helping out on the album are members of Red Haired Strangers, Mat Kane (Disposable Rocket Band), Courtney Blackwell (Blackwell Sinners) and Matt Durfee (Palatypus). Target date for release is sometime in March.

MIRK: Formerly Mirk & the New Familiars, the rock & soul hip-hopsters are readying the follow-up to their 2010 live double-disc set, “Love/Live: A 2pt Trilogy.” Featuring the lead-off single, “Away,” the band’s sophomore studio album is slated for release this spring.