Rahsaan Patterson soars at Bleuphoria Live in L.A.
In a hall filled with Soul legends
It’s been nearly 15 years since his self-titled debut album graced the Soul music scene with one of the most distinguishable voices in the industry. Yet, Rahsaan Patterson gave one of the most soulful and vocally pleasant performances of his entire career at a recent Bleuphoria Live concert.
In a hall filled with Soul legends, music industry icons, and fans, Patterson bared his soul through a microphone for nearly three hours. He performed several songs from each of his six studio albums, only taking a few small breaks to revel in the euphoric sounds of his band and backing singers.
Reliving records like “Spend the Night,” “Friend of Mine,” “Feels Good,” and “Stop Breaking My Heart” provided many audience members with an introduction to his adept cataloge of expertly written songs infused with a gritty vocal technique developed over the years.
Patterson spun his voice around the microphone, creating an assortment of sounds which captivated the audience, lacing the room with vocal riffs accompanied live by Chaka Khan and Rachelle Ferrell. His re-arrangement of the classic Jazz tune “I Only Have Eyes For You” stunned the crowd, invoking a thunderous ovation twice.
“Easier Said Than Done” offered layered harmonies which kept developing and drawing the audience in further with every note.
Just as the audience felt at ease listening to Patterson’s interpretations, legendary Soul heiress Lalah Hathaway joined him on stage to perform his newest single “6 a.m.” Her voice was rich with a signature Jazz flavor apparently passed down from her father, Donny Hathaway. After their vocal duet, Hathaway took a seat at the piano using her key-stroking skills to create her own distinctive interpretation of Sade’s “Stronger Than Pride.”
R&B singer, Shanice, stopped by to perform background on “Crazy (Baby),” giving the audience a taste of her soaring vocal range. Patterson admitted that he has always loved Shanice’s ability to sing powerful notes, which he remembered from his days working with her on the 1984 television show “Kids Inc.”
As he began to perform “Ghost,” Patterson announced that a legend was in the building, and then he called Jody Watley up to perform. She danced around the stage with the same vibrancy she had in the 1980s, turning the audience into a retro dance club. Watley’s presence added to the powerful sounds of Patterson’s newly released album, “Bleuphoria.” The album utilizes several musical themes from Watley’s heyday and is reminiscent of 1980s releases by Whitney Houston, Prince, Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson.
As the night went on, the audience fell in love with the vibrant soulfulness of Patterson’s string quartet and horn section, which brought back the idea that Soul music is rooted in expression from a wide range of instrumentation. Patterson’s use of live instruments reminded the audience of other classic live Soul albums by pioneers like Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Anita Baker and Mary J. Blige.
Patterson’s Bleuphoria Live concert clearly provided a message to the industry that Soul music still possesses the ‘wow factor.’ And his ability to bring together some of the greatest musicians and singers for a legendary live recording is a testament to Patterson’s position in Soul music. It is also clear from his awe-inspiring performance that Rahsaan Patterson is one of this generation’s greatest singer-songwriters, and his artistic approach is sent down from somewhere in the skies.
James B. Golden is a Los Angeles-based music journalist. He has previously edited the Hip Hop Think Tank academic journal and Kapu-Sens Literary magazine. He is the author of a Hip Hop poetry collection entitled “Sweet Potato Pie Underneath The Sun’s Broiler.” He may be reached at www.JamesBGolden.com.
South Carolina native Nick Ashford, of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson died of throat cancer at a hospital in New York City on Monday He was 70.
The 2011 BET awards held Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium was full of fashion, excitement, surprises and most of all entertainment.
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart took it to a whole different level with his charisma and comical personality, and with more than 14 performances, BET provided their guests with more than a few surprises during the show.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Howard Theatre, the historic arts landmark that launched the careers of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, re-opened after a $29-million renovation and a 32-year hiatus. The Howard Theatre came back to life with an opening lineup that included Wale, Wanda Sykes, The Roots, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Meshell Ndegeocello, Bad Brains, Chuck Brown, Chuck Berry, Esperanza Spalding and a weekly Sunday Brunch featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. The full schedule is available at www.thehowardtheatre.com.
I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way
—Whitney Houston (Greatest Love of All)
As the world mourns the untimely death of international pop icon Whitney Houston, broadcast media continues to rehash the 48-year-old’s rise to fame, public battle with drug addiction and tumultuous marriage to entertainer Bobby Brown.
But these portrayals are just one side of the Newark, N.J., native.
There was no way you were sitting down.
As soon as you heard those four notes—just four beats—your feet were itching to move. You were up and on the dance floor quick, not caring that you didn’t have a partner. With songs like that, you’d dance alone, but not for long: other people’s feet were itching, too, and you knew you wouldn’t be by yourself but for a minute.
