Minott Relies on Love Songs

The highs weren’t too high and the lows weren’t too low during reggae veteran Sugar Minott’s 90-minute set before a packed house at the Music Machine on Friday. Minott’s emphasis on love songs and functional grooves comes across as lightweight compared to reggae’s first wave, but his songwriting skills and craftsmanship are substantial measured against the currently popular deejay style.

Friday’s performance was vintage, crowd-pleasing Minott--medleys of older hits mixed in with fresh material, expert backing from a six-piece band, and the hard-working singer’s always engaging, unpretentious showmanship. Affable and approachable, he surrendered the mike to an audience member for a mid-song rap that jacked up the energy level substantially, and later delivered an impromptu, a cappella response to a song request.

The version of “Happy Together” that ended the performance was a rare misstep, and Minott’s ability to avoid major gaffes makes him a good bet to continue delivering consummately professional reggae. But the absence of any real high spots also makes it unlikely that he’ll open up any memorable new vistas for the Jamaican style.