LIVE: RAHSAAN PATTERSON at the Howard Theatre (DC)

Rahsaan Patterson walked onto the Howard Theatre stage without much fanfare or long winded introduction, starting Friday night’s show with 2004’s “I Always Find Myself.”  The singer treated the crowd with vocal runs to flesh out the first number before running immediately into “Crazy” from his most recent album “Bleuphoria.”
For one of his generation’s most underrated singers, it’s no surprise that Rah would treat us with his flawless rendition of Luther Vandross’, classic “Don’t You Know That.” The surprise was that it was the first time that Rahsaan and company had performed the song.  He could have fooled us! After the song, he spoke about how he was a fan of Vandross and the similarities in their careers.  Both began singing jingles, doing session work, and writing for others.
For the next hour and a half he gave a clinic on vocal acrobatics, backed by members of Washington, DC’s Sounds of the City and vocal powerhouses Trina Broussard and Ra-Re Valverde.  If you’ve not had the pleasure to see Mr. Patterson live, don’t come thinking you are going to be able to sing like you are jamming to your stereo or bumping in your ride.  He shows just how someone with his talents can freak the phrasing of a song as familiar as his hit “Spend the Night.”  He tumbles, summersaults, pauses and performs cartwheels with the notes and lands them as gently as an agile gymnast.  The soundman gets into the action as he manipulates Rahsaan’s voice with reverb and echo, making his voice heard in a repetitive waterfall.
Singing his way through his introduction of the band, he thanked the audience for coming out in the snow and buying his records.  If you get a chance, catch Rahsaan Patterson where you are.
 
Words: Marq Few