The new, as-yet-untitled CD will be more bare bones than Smither’s recent recordings, with Smither, Goodrich, and drummer/percussionist Zak Trojano forming the musical core of the session. The trio first came together earlier in 2008 when Smither was asked to perform at the Blue Highways Festival in the Netherlands with a band. The normally solo Smither invited Goodrich and Trojano to make the trip. Prior to going to Utrecht, the three performed a few under-the-radar rehearsal shows around Boston under the name “Leroy Purcell and the Motivators,” and this fall regrouped for a show at Joe’s Pub in New York City.

As is customary on most of Smither’s albums, in addition to a majority of new original compositions, he will also offer his own take on several covers. One song confirmed for the recording will be “Miner’s Blues” by 1920’s Appalachian coal miner and musician Frank Hutchison. Gloria Goodwin Raheja, an anthropology professor at the University of Minnesota, approached Smither about recording the song for a compilation she is co-producing of Hutchison’s songs. Raheja’s CD project will feature a solo rendition of “Miner's Blues,” while Chris' record will have a fully produced rendition of the song.