"She sees diamonds in black skies . . ." croons Jaime Michaels throughout the last track on Little Dreams, a return to the deep acoustic roots sound that has nourished his
musical development for many years. Each of the album's cuts similarly sparkle like precious gems in the nighttime desert sky over Santa Fe, where he currently lives and
where he recorded Little Dreams.
A native of Rhode Island, Michaels grew up with music inside and outside the house. The old Newport Folk Festival grounds beckoned from down the road, and both parents were
accomplished pianists ("Mom favored gospel ballads and Dad beer-fueled boogie"). At age 12, Michaels scored an old Sears guitar from his uncle, and it was all over. He
launched his music career in Cambridge, "at the height of the great folk scare", learning from such Harvard Square heroes as Tom Rush and Bonnie Raitt. Soon Michaels was
appearing with Livingston Taylor and Jonathan Edwards. He took to the road, absorbing influences along the way, eventually gigging in New Orleans as the lead singer for gumbo
rockers, the Truly Dangerous Swamp Band, who performed with Little Feat.
Michaels describes the album cuts on Little Dreams as "twelve reflections on the small victories that carry us up and over the hill to God knows what's waiting on the other
side… heartfelt snapshots of hope soaring and love toughing it out. Sometimes even winning." His uncluttered folk sound is tempered with accents of percussion (including a
box played in a shower), piano, organ, cello, dobro, and harmonica, leaving plenty of room for his gentle vocal tremelo to color his vivid lyrics with emotion. It's a masterful
understatement from a singer-songwriter who knows the value of space and subtle shadings.
Michaels was a runner-up in Billboard magazine's songwriting contest (1991, 1994, 1998); and a finalist in both the WAMA awards (1997), and the New Mexico Mic awards (1999).
