Sugar Minott: Press

Sugar Minott
NEW DAY

Lincoln “Sugar” Minott, pioneer dancehall/lover’s rock singer with decades of hit songs recorded on more than 60 albums, is set to take the world by musical storm with the release of New Day, his latest CD.

With 15 tracks that range from energetic to soulful, Sugar’s sweet voice and positive messages will take you back to a time when lyrics and melodies ruled the dance hall; when love songs were heartfelt and partying all night was the norm. Sugar Minott continues to be a prolific songwriter, adept at balancing the personal and socio-political messages intertwined consistently throughout his songs.

Recorded in the UK, the USA, and Jamaica, New Day is produced, arranged, and engineered by UK-based Roman Pryce of Kukumon Productions. Seven songs were voiced at Sugar’s legendary Kingston-based Black Roots Productions studio. Also lending to the authentic sound is celebrated engineer Stephen Stewart from Kingston’s renowned Harry J studio. The combined skills of Pryce and Stewart bring a fusion of reggae, soul, dancehall, and lover’s rock that will cause you to stop, look, listen, and dance!

Guest appearances from legends DJ Josey Wales, Ranking Trevor, guitarist Dwight Pinkney, pianist Charles Farquarson, and percussionists Bongo Herman and Scully, enhance the heartical feel. Sharon Martini and Nikii Davis provide supporting vocals, as well as Andrew Tosh, son of Peter Tosh. Rhythm guitarist Danny Pryce and acoustic guitarist Teja Bell round out this well-produced musical creation.

New Day begins with Josey Wales and Ranking Trevor, ‘inna combination stylee,’ introducing “Getting’ It On,” an upbeat old-school throwback to calling out “lawd a’mercy” with world famous DJs “workin’ it out.” Sugar lets listeners know that this dancehall is “fi real.” You will find the original reggae message of love, peace, and unity laced throughout this CD. On the meaningful, danceable “Reachin’ Out 2-U,” Sugar calls for the world to stop, listen, and face reality, as we “are still lookin’ for a solution.”

The sweet-sounding “One Life” continues with the positive. If you are looking for the Sugar of the ‘80s, you will find him on this bubbly tune that will certainly get your mind to think and your feet to dance. The rocking “Keep the Fire Burnin’” is Lover’s Roots, and his sultry voice, reminiscent of his good friend Dennis Brown, confirms that he is keeping the D Brown fire burning.

You will take a musical journey to the good ole days of rub-a-dub when you reach “Lover’s Rock.” This perfect groovin’ party song will have you ‘lover’s rockin’ all night long. On “Good Friends,” Sugar moves dancehall into the 21st century with a song full of percussion and musical arrangements that you can feel. Perhaps this is a personal thank you to his friends and fans who have stuck with the musical icon for nearly 40 years. “When you have a good friend/the love will never end.”

Legend Toots Hibbert and Sugar co-wrote the title song, “New Day.” As their distinct voices blend together -- Toots adding the pepper to Sugar’s sweetness -- the two forces call for a change - “things are the same/but it’s a new day.” “Need Love” is a soul-pop melody that showcases Sugar’s effortless, relaxed vocals, as well as Dwight Pinkney’s skanking guitar riffs, and lush expressive harmonies.

“Show Me a Sign” is a love story where Sugar is looking for love, and a sign that his woman feels the same. It is borderline pop, and with the perfect harmonies and solid bass and drum, Sugar sounds again like the late Dennis Brown. It was love at first sight, and “Regina,” a pop-fused love song, celebrates a love found, which turns Sugar’s life around and takes him from a “dream to reality.”

In the up-tempo “Stranger in Your Town,” Sugar declares, “I am here/looking for perfect spot/where the music is hot.” All about having fun and being carefree, Sugar offers a good time riddim that will have you up, enjoying “the music, the wine, and a little smoke” with the stranger in town.

“Oh Mamma” is an infectious, Brazilian-like groove that pays tribute to Africa and Mother Nature. Full of percussion, drums, and sweet harmony, Sugar pays tribute to Jah Jah and Rasta in words and rhythm that will leave you wanting more from Mr. Black Roots.

“Just Chill” displays the extraordinary range of Sugar Minott’s voice and talent. Singing with a deep, haunting tone, and beautifully supported with melodic harmonies, Sugar reminds us that his original sound “is still here” and they “never gonna hold us back.” On “I’ve Been Workin’,” Sugar declares that it is his time now. He goes on to remind us he has been working “so hard,” and for him, the work “will never end.”

The CD ends with “All I Need is Your Love,” a soul-roots love song with a sweet-as-sugar intro that will sing its way into your heart. Whether it is for the world or a special someone, Sugar croons that there is no need for “fancy clothes or big expensive car -- just be yourself” and in return, Sugar will forever shower you with his sweetness.

-- M. Peggy Quattro/Reggae Report

“NEW DAY”


International Review:
Lydia Thomas - IRIE
Label: Black Roots Productions/Kukumon Productions
MasteredBy: Bernie Grundman - Bernie Grundman Mastering Studio - LA




UK Producer Roman Pryce of Kukumon Productions has recently worked with Finley Quayle, Crucial Bankie, Toots Hibbert and Gregory Issac's. Pryce produced, arranged, engineered the tracks and mixed “New Day” in three different continents. The UK, Jamaica and the USA. Extremely blessed with a talent of matching the artist to the rhythm, Roman Pryce is a producer to be reckoned with. Produced and recorded at Kukumon Studio's in Leeds, Yorkshire UK and Portland, Oregon, USA. New Day was also engineered and recorded with yet another extremely highly talented engineer, Stephen Stewart at Harry J. Legendary Studio's, in Kingston, Jamaica. Both Pryce and Stewart bring to the New Day Session's an igniting chemistry of dancehall, reggae and lover's rock for Sugar Minott. Seven of the vocal tracks were recorded at Sugar's own studio, Black Roots Productions in Kingston, Jamaica.

2005 Grammy Winner Toots Hibbert co-writes with Minott on the title track “New Day”. The two legends together weaving their sweet magical voices and lyrics into a place in reggae history. Sugar Minott has an exceptional gift for writing lyrics that bring to the front line what is going on in the everyday world of everyday people. Sugar Minott is one of the most identifiable voices in reggae and dance hall industry today. The July 21st world wide release ignites a “New Day” in reggae music featuring one of the biggest legends in dancehall and lover's rock, Lincoln “Sugar” Minott.

“New Day” also features international recording artists: DJ's Josey Wales, Ranking Trevor, guitarist, Dwight Pickney, backing vocals Sharon Martini, Nikii Davis, Singer Andrew Tosh (Peter Tosh's son), pianist Charles Farquarson (Toots and the Maytals), Danny Pryce, percussionist, Bongo Herman, horns, Congo, Scully & Friends and acoustic guitarist, Teja Bell.
Rating: 5 stars - Check out the single: “Good Friends”

Sugar Minott was molasses sweet at JAVAA tribute

The only man to get an encore, and quite deservingly so, Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott packed a heavy musical punch at Friday night's Dennis Brown celebration hosted by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) in the Gardens of the Pegasus.

Stating that Dennis Brown was his true friend, and was known to his 'breddren' as Fire, Sugar Minott turned in such a stellar performance that one could only imagine Fire looking down, his face beaming with that larger-than-life, ear-to-ear smile that was specially reserved for everyone with whom he came in contact.

After paying a musical tribute to Dennis by singing one of his songs, Mr Lincoln delved into his own repertoire and unleashed a string of formidable hits that had even the arthritic people (so labelled by emcee Mutabaruka) in the venue on their feet and clamouring for more. See't deh, see't deh, see't deh, rub-a-dub it a go hol' yuh/See't deh see't deh see't deh, rub-a-dub control yuh/Please Mr DC, don't you touch my collie/Hear mi now supe, hear mi now star . we a go buy out the bar were a few lines from some of the hits that the veteran used to 'tun ova di place'.

Performing in the middle of the show's second half, many of those who preceded Sugar Minott also turned in unforgettable performances. Standing tall among them was the legendary Boris Gardiner, whose soothing vocals on songs such as Groovy Kinda Love, So Nice (To Be With You) and I Wanna Wake Up With You captivated the capacity audience, and left them wondering how his voice could have sounded exactly as it did 30-odd years ago. One could easily have listened to Boris for at least another hour and not be bored.

This celebration was one of those shows where the synergy between audience and performers was absolutely magical, so much so that Bob Andy decided to give 'brawta' and George Nooks' God Is Standing By elicited such a healthy sing-along response that even Muta couldn't help himself . he morphed into the Sabbath School choir director and actually seemed to be enjoying himself. Quite understandably, that was short-lived.

Bunny Brown, a man who is rarely seen locally, was enjoyable, so too were Derrick Harriott, Ken Boothe, John Holt, Dwight Pinkney, the Tamlins and Lloyd Parkes. Unfortunately, the trio of young turks - Anthony Cruz, Christopher Martin and Queen Ifrica - along with Leroy Sibbles, all failed to show up and claim a piece of what was truly an historic evening in reggae music.

The sudden death, at 42, of Jamaican singer Dennis Emmanuel Brown, affectionately called 'D Brown', on July 1, 1999 sent a shockwave through the world of reggae and robbed the music of its most popular ever grassroots performer.

Now in its fifth year, the JAVAA celebration has come of age and hats off to the promoters who started the show on time and kept the running order so tight, that despite a line-up of close to 30 acts, everyone performed within a five-hour time band to a very satisfied audience.

"New Day"
Thank's for the sampler of the soon to be released CD
"New Day". It has left me with an appetite of wanting more!

Review/Reggae; Sugar Minott's Fusion of Past and Present

Sugar Minott's show at S.O.B.'s on Thursday night took a couple of hours to settle down. And even when it did, not much happened. Mr. Minott, who is one of reggae's better singers, works in a slightly dated style; the thrill that comes from a new and vital genre wasn't there. Backed by a decent band made up partly of Brooklynites and partly of Jamaicans, Mr.

Sugar Minott's show at S.O.B.'s on Thursday night took a couple of hours to settle down. And even when it did, not much happened. Mr. Minott, who is one of reggae's better singers, works in a slightly dated style; the thrill that comes from a new and vital genre wasn't there. Backed by a decent band made up partly of Brooklynites and partly of Jamaicans, Mr. Minott mostly sang, though he occasionally moved into the part rap, part singing, dance-hall style of reggae that is generating the most hits in the Jamaican market.

Mr. Minott has always been canny, though, filling up his repertory with reggae singing, Rastafari tunes, a few songs about marijuana and the wilder and funnier dance-hall style. On Thursday, he included a handful of songs about African politics, including a tune about Nelson Mandela. And while the dance-hall material had people dancing the hardest, it was the chants about Africa - one went ''Africa, we remember you'' - that had the crowd singing along.

Mr. Minott brought two other singers with him from Jamaica. Chris Wayne, who opened the show, mixed dance-hall toasting with singing. Mr. Wayne unleashed torrents of words over a pumping bass while the drummer played the bursting double-time figures of dance-hall; even when he sang melodies, they'd be broken up by spurts and splinters of sound. Mr. Wayne delivered staccato toasting phrases while the keyboardist played the melody from ''Norwegian Wood.'' And Mr. Wayne had the audience hopping up and down as he jumped around the stage, bringing his knees up high.

He was followed by Little John, a reggae crooner whose set suddenly went flaccid in the middle, contributing to a long night being made longer. A short fireplug of a man, Little John regularly punctuated his songs with ''Oh, Lord!,'' implying the possibility of religious passion that was nowhere to be found.

Published: May 30, 1990