"Over the past 20 years guitarist, writer and singer Nathan Tinkham has built himself a reputation as one of the finest country music collaborators in the west," wrote Peter North in the Edmonton Journal.
Since the early 70s, he has been known for his songs and inventive guitar playing with Ian Tyson, The Great Western Orchestra, Cindy Church and Quartette. Raised on the west coast, he was drawn to the cowboy ways of Alberta, and as it turned out, Alberta was drawn to him. The western guitarist of choice, Nathan has shared the careers of many of Canada's finest in his role as guitar man, all the while listening, learning and writing. He has had songs covered by Cindy Church, Quartette, Bill and Bonnie Hearne, Melanie, the Pointer Brothers, the Sheep River Rounders and others.
When you hear a Nathan Tinkham song, you may be meeting remarkable people, hearing the dark inside of a breaking heart, feeling the dusty heat of the desert, or listening to the courage of honesty. It takes all kinds of people and places to make the world go 'round, and Nathan has woven the lives he's encountered and the places he's been into small, but powerful stories in song.
Nathan Tinkham is an Alberta-bred singer and songwriter who has toiled for years behind the scenes, first as a member of Great Western Orchestra (where his popular Curly Bob story song originated); as well as working with Ian Tyson, and Cindy Church (including song input towards her progression into the Canadian group Quartette); and now has forged his way front and centre with his own solo album.
The Loom is a collection of 14 songs written or co-written by Tinkham - two songs (Alison Lives by the Big Bend and Hobo Girl) will be familiar to some as being previously recorded by Quartette.
Nathan Tinkham covers a wide range with his material - oldtime country, folk and country/blues are the prime sounds, a lot of it being an extension of sorts to the theme and concept of Ian Tyson's Cowboyography music. Several tracks stand out, none better than the story song South to Whitehorse, the gospel flavoured Get Thee Behind Me, and the picturesque title track, The Loom. The closest to a hardcore country hurtin' tune comes in Tonight, I Would Hold You. Tinkham also adds a bit of the Australian Outback feel in his instrumental arrangement of Red Haired Boy - the piece is introduced by a Didjeridoo...an instrument that may have just made its first appearance on a Cancountry album !!
Larry Delaney, Country Music News