"This album is a “Roller Coaster de Festivus”, blending his own new age stylings with classic, traditional and original holiday music.  Also, a lot of the tracks feature the Nashville String Machine.  Certainly very cool stuff." - Mark Hornsby - Read the complete blog post.

By Renee Rinehart

The Signature Newspaper

LA VETA, COLO. – Dec. 24, 2009)  One of the best holiday gifts this year was given to the La Veta area by Ricky Tims and his troop of talented friends. If you missed “Christmas in a Small Town” last weekend, you’ll just have to buy the CD to get in the spirit.

The show blended holiday music from eras past as well as Tims’ new creations to present a spirited and enjoyable evening for all.

Tims held six local shows last weekend at the Francisco Center for the Performing Arts, featuring La Veta as the inspiration for his now annual Christmas show filled with music, singing and dynamic visuals on a screen in the background. Tims said over 430 people came to see the holiday extravaganza. While most were locals, others traveled from the Front Range, Texas, Kansas and Iowa to attend the show.

This year’s show was set apart from the previous years with the addition of the all female Veronika String Quartet from Pueblo. The string quartet added a bold, rich sound to the live music. The quartet accompanied Tims on the English song “The Holly and the Ivy” and the Latin “Personent Hodie”.

Local percussionist Johnny Watson added great rhythmic sounds as well as depth and interest to the show as he played the hand drums and bar chimes and showed the amateurs how to use a rain stick as a musical instrument.

The angelic Kat Bowser returned to La Veta from Nashville, Tenn. to belt out seasonal favorites like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Favorite Things”. Bowser teamed with Tims for a third year to present the concert.

La Veta local Jeff Bilyeau, gave another extraordinary performance on the didgeridoo on several songs. Bilyeau also performed on the Native American flute and sang backup vocals.

Tims included Christmas songs from many cultures and eras in addition to his own creations. Tims warned the audience before the song titled “All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” that he thought it was an awful name for a beautiful song. “I called a friend from music school to ask her what she’d like me to include on my Christmas CD, and this is what she recommended,” said Tims.

Tims had a vision for the song, and shared it with the audience. A video depicting a late 19th Century family preparing for the holiday showed on a large screen behind the stage. Local actors dressed in period clothing carrying lanterns perfectly interpreted the haunting and seasonal melody.

With the help of locals Todd Emory and Jim Hoobler, a brand new horse drawn sleigh appeared along with costumes and cast members. The crew filmed the piece on Hoobler’s land in Trinchera last month. The young boy in the video is Hoobler’s nephew Hayden Arnold. You can now see the video on the website.

Tims included his own “Northern Lights” and the now famous “Christmas in a Small Town”. The latter is performed with the La Veta flare of familiar faces shoveling snow, singing carols and shopping on Main Street.

If you missed the show, you can capture the magic by listening to the music on CD, or go to the website to play a version of “Christmas in a Small Town”. Visit www.christmasinasmalltown.com for video clips and songs from the CD.

Reprinted with permission from The Signature Newspaper. December 24, 2009 issue.

Joen Wolfrom | December 11, 2009 - Original Post Link

The Signature Newspaper - December 10, 2009 - Reprinted with permission

La Veta is the inspiration for Ricky Tims’ Christmas in a Small Town

Ricky Tims presents Christmas concert and new CD

By Brad Atchison

 (LA VETA, COLO.—Dec. 10, 2009)  Ricky Tims describes the time he has spent in La Veta as simple life on a grand scale, and is also an exceptionally fitting description for his most recent artistic endeavor. With this multi-faceted project Tims has pieced together music and memories into a holiday tapestry that depicts Christmas in a Small Town.

Christmas in a Small Town is a three-part production; live concert, new CD and a web-based multi media event.  Each of these expressions shows the creativity, sincerity and fiber of a multi-talented artist. 

Tims’ seasonal Christmas concerts have become a holiday tradition for the residents of Huerfano County, southern Colorado and snowbirds who brave a winter visit to their summer nests in Cuchara and La Veta.  His concerts present like a big-stage review without losing the intimacy and familiarity of a local production. 

“It's all fun, but I would say far from relaxed,” said Tims.  “This year there is new music and new musicians.”  For his 2009 production, Tims is bringing back Jeff Bilyeau to play the didgeridoo and the Broadway voice of Nashville recording artist Kat Bowser.  In addition, Tims has invited local percussionist Johnny Watson and Colorado’s internationally renowned Veronika String Quartet to join him on stage. 

Christmas in a Small Town is also the name of Ricky Tims new CD.  Although some recording artists approach Christmas music like an obligation, Tims’ holiday recording project avoids the ‘insipid’ and revels in the ‘inspired’.  The 12 musical tracks feature a mix of the secular and spiritual, contemporary and traditional as well as holiday standards and originals.

Tims harnessed the talents of friends, studio musicians, a small ensemble of strings and the Canterbury Choir of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia to create his CD.  While the rest of La Veta was enjoying sunny summer days, Tims was hard at work in the studio producing this project. 

“I spent June, July, and August doing the final arrangements and production of the CD,” said Tims.  “It is by far the most significant personal work of my life. I'm very proud of it.”  That is a remarkable statement coming from one of the most accomplished artists in the world of quilting. 

Along with arranging, producing the CD, Tims designed the CD cover, wrote the title track, and the closing track (All is Well).  Tims also recorded the male vocals, played the flute, recorder, piano and…toy piano. Those who attended his 2008 Christmas Show heard Tims’ story of finding and restoring a toy piano that had been a gift to his cousin in the Christmas of 1957. 

“Our 8 millimeter home movie shows that I was far more attracted to the toy piano than I was to my new rocking horse or tricycle,” recalled Tims.  Just last year, Tims stumbled across the piano in a storage shed while visiting his family.  He employed the skills of local luthier and musician, David Enke, who restored the piano to its toy grandeur. 

Tims employs the tender plunk of his refurbished piano throughout the disc.  The lonely sound of the musical toy gives grand arrangements a simplicity and authenticity that will resonate with kids of all ages; especially those who close their eyes and see sugarplum fairies dancing while listening to The Nutcracker Suite.      

The CD, which makes a great Christmas gift for all, can be purchased at local retail outlets—but hurry, it’s selling out fast.

The final and most far-reaching component of Christmas in a Small Town, is Tims’ website (www.christmasinasmalltown.com).  On this site you can listen to tracks from his CD, watch clips from previous concerts and see the Super 8 footage of a toddling Ricky banging away on the toy piano that is featured in his current production.  

 One of the most compelling and connecting aspects of this multi-media event are the stories that fans have posted about memories of their own “small town” Christmas.  “The website has over 100 stories,” said Tims with pride.  “They really are fantastic.”  

You can see Ricky and his friends play songs from his new CD and celebrate the holiday in the town that was his inspiration for this project on December 17, 18 and 19 at the Francisco Center for the Performing Arts, 127 W. Francisco in La Veta.  There will be two shows nightly at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  You can purchase tickets online, at Charlie’s Market, Tims Art Quilt Studio, or by calling 719-742-3755.

 ----------------------------------------------------

Corrections to the artlcle – All is Well is written by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael W. Smith. The toy piano was restored by both David and Annie Enke.

"Anyone looking for a great Christmas collection should look no further. These arrangements are beautiful and really ignite the Christmas spirit. Highly recommended." - Carmech25

"Great arrangements and production values. Love it!" - Sharoonkh

Christmas Sweet and Pure
by ebandit - Oct 23, 2009

The orchestral arrangements and song choices make for a wonderful Christmas album. This is not the usual rehash of overdone seasonal songs. Instead, a strong and steady sense of peace and faith are invoked in the listener. This album is fresh and totally enjoyable. 

Christmas In a Small Town
by Petencolorado - October 24, 2009

Wow!!! An incredible collection of beloved Christmas songs with a new and refreshing twist! Ho hum Christmas music...NOT AT ALL with this collection. Christmas In a Small Town will take you back to your childhood memories of that glorious of days, Christmas

Joyous!
by kwood1116 - Oct 23, 2009

Refreshing new arrangements of classic Christmas songs we all knowna d love, with a couple of new ones thrown in. This album makes a nice addition to any Christmas collection.

Christmas in a Small Town
by susandanice - Oct 25, 2009

A great variety of selections! Includes refreshing arrangements of Christmas favorites, several lesser-known carols that deserve recognition, plus an original song that has the potential to become a classic. Beautifully arranged and performed. Highly recommended!

The Signature Newspaper – December 11, 2008

A 1957 toy piano in very poor condition has been revived by David and Annie Enke [of La Veta, Colorado]. The original piano belonged to a cousin of Ricky Tims who commissioned David and Annie to do the restoration. Toy pianos were very popular in the 50's. This particular piano was made by Jamar, one of two major toy piano companies from that era.

“Even as a child that old toy piano has always captivated me,” states Tims, “but it was not mine. A year or so ago I asked my cousin where it was, and we located it in her garage. The wood casing was falling apart, the metal tines were rusty and some of the plastic keys were broken. I claimed it as my own and vowed to have it restored.”

Not only did Tims want it restored, but he wanted it to become a serious performance instrument - and he wanted the new version to be red. "I could have purchased a new one for half of what I invested to have this one re-done, but it wouldn't have been the same."

“Every part of the toy piano needed repair. It was a real challenge, but a fun one,” remarked David Enke. “It’s now an instrument that can be taken seriously.”

Tims will be featuring the toy piano in his upcoming "Christmas in a Small Town" concerts next week at Tims Art Quilt Studio.

(LA VETA, COLO.—Dec. 25, 2008) “Christmas In A Small Town” filled the valley with the spirit of music and community celebration at the Tims Art Quilt Studio last weekend. Ricky Tims, his friend Nashville singer Kat Bowser and Jeff Bilyeau performed Christmas songs. Six concerts were held from Thursday through Saturday.

The concert featured some new material created entirely by Tims, “I think I might have enough for another album”, one from Spain, one from France and several classic favorites that the crowd joined in on.

Tims utilized many instruments to produce the magnificent sounds of this years show, including; Bilyeau on the Didgeridoo (an instrument used by Australian Aborigines) and Tims on the piano, organ, recorder and his new (refurbished by the Enke’s) toy piano originally given to his cousin.

photo by Judith Baker Montano