After five years of personal redefinition, a variety of collaborations, (John Butler "Story Of Life", Jimmy Sommers "What Am I Gonna Do", Brian Culbertson "Come On Up") and other music for films (Love & Basketball,Dr. Doolittle, Two Can Play That Game, Hoodlum, Brown Sugar), the ''Picasso of the soul'' comes back with a new opus called "After Hours". Although this album is definitely funkier than the previous ones, the Patterson signature is easily recognized: his distinctive voice and melodies artfully sprinkle a subtle blend of gospel, blues, jazz and soul. Rahsaan is introverted at times and exquisitely sexy always.

Rahsaan  Patterson  performed in New York earlier this month. Several members of his band collaborated on "After hours" :

John Smith (Jubu) - musical director/guitar
Carl Wheeler - keyboards
Kenneth Crouch - keyboards
Eric Smith - bass
Eric Seats - drums
Trina Broussard - vocals
RaRe Valverde - vocals

The venue was packed and the audience seemed excited. A group of hard core fans were even wearing assorted T-shirts.

Rahsaan finally appears on stage, his feline ways echo some of Prince's "je ne sais quoi".

The artist randomly sings several tunes from "After hours" and performs a capella from his previous albums. He often offers great vocal acrobatics. The delighted audience sings along. Although the show doesn't seem rehearsed that much, Rahsaan looks laid back, dandy at times. He talks and jokes with a very happy crowd. After the show he spends a long time signing autographs and pictures for his fans.

A soft spoken Rahsaan kindly answers my questions as I catch up with him the next day.

Fonkadelica : Rahsaan is an unusual name...

Rahsaan Patterson : Well, I was named after Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who was a jazz saxophonist back in the fifties. He was actually born Roland Kirk and recorded two albums, I believe, under his birth name. And one night, he had a dream: God came to him and gave him the name "Rahsaan"; so from that point, he began to record under Rahsaan Roland Kirk and my father named me after him.

Was your father a jazz enthusiast ?

Yeah, but he loved all music; he was a music lover, definitely.

Have you had any formal musical training ?

I guess church would be the answer to that, singing in the choir since I was about maybe four or five. But that's pretty much it. I learned just from listening to music and reading books.

Your technique is so incredible! It is amazing without any formal training ...

Well, the only time when I went to a vocal coach was when I was going through puberty, my voice started changing. I went so I would be able to understand how to get my voice back and sing properly after the change. Because when I was a kid, I sang very high . Then when I was about fourteen to about seventeen, my voice started changing , it was awkward and... I actually stopped singing for a whole year 'cause I was petrified. Fortunately I was able to get it back.

Fortunately for us, yes! (laughs)

(Laughs)

Do you play an instrument?

Just my voice right now.

Do you have a favorite method when it comes to creating a song?

I just like to let it all happen instinctively. I don't always have a preconceived idea of songs or lyrics. I usually like to get to the studio with whoever I am working with and just let it happen.

Do you usually write songs with other people or do you compose alone?

It depends, you know. Usually I write a song in my head and then share it with whoever I am working with. And then we'll produce it together. Although most of the time, I actually enjoy collaborating . So that's usually how it's set up. I go in the studio with whoever I am working with , we get together and the sparks fly...

How would you define the Rahsaan Patterson sound?

Hum... (long pause)

I know it's a hard question for you...

Eclectic maybe ?... from the soul...from the planets, "music heaven"...

Who were your major musical influences?

Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan, Donnie Hathaway, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder...

Stevie Wonder...Do you consider him like a precursor?

Oh definitely! He's been a major influence  not only for myself and other artists, but also for the world, really. His information and his ability to translate love in lyric, and hope in his music was very profound. He definitely taught lot of us as artists how to do what we do. And to people to kind of stick together, you know what I mean... Donnie Hathaway as well; he was a very informed musician and most definitely impacted the reality of life in the world through his music; unfortunately he wasn't able to have as big as catalogue as Stevie Wonder. But one can only imagine that if he were able to have a huge catalogue like that, it would be probably some new commandments !

Do you think you have a responsibility as an artist to "pass on" a message, as a kind of a mission ?

I feel like it's a mission more than a responsibility. I've never really been comfortable with accepting the role of responsibility. I am grateful to be able to have the mind set and the heart to see it as a mission as supposed to responsibility. Because if I really thought it was a responsibility, you know, I might not do it! (smile). 

"Rock n' roll" attitude ! (laugh)

Yeah!... But it's definitely a mission. It's a mission for myself first : to stay connected and to stay linked with the spirit and get the information for me first. And once I have the information, which usually is communicated while I'm singing and while I'm writing, from there I believe it infuses to and through listeners.

How do you consider your new album "After hours" different from your previous ones?

It's definitely a progression from the first two. The difference is also that what I have experienced from the time I started making it, had a lot to do with what the album is now. Dealing with death and all the emotions which come with that. And actually just getting older, you know. I was seventeen when I started writing the songs for my first album. Then I was 24 when I started writing songs for my second one. And then for this one, this was after being 25 years old to thirty. I think those brackets definitely have a lot to do with the difference between each album. And in life in general, we all grow with specific things which happen to us. With age, our mind begins to change and transform thoughts, you know; previous thoughts change in new thoughts and beliefs. And I think my album reflects that.
Are you happier when you compare yourself today with who you were when you were seventeen?

Yeah, I definitely appreciate age because of that reason: you get to look back and get to see where you were versus how far you've come to be the way you are now. Definitely as an artist it's exciting to progress and evolve, to be open to growth ... To be able to put all your records together and look and see how they have evolved, I like that. That's something which is exciting for me. 

And the "music biz " stuff doesn't stop you yet ? (smile)

It just adds to it! (smile)

Let's focus now on your new album "After hours". Could you single out a couple of songs and tell me about the state of mind you were in when you wrote them?

"Don't run so fast" : I was in the studio and it had been a year and a half to two years since the death of my father, and I was still very emotionally affected by it. But in that process there was a moment where I started to reflect back on my childhood and how I grew up and all the authority figures in my life : my father, my grandmother, my mother... and how important their roles are and their upbringing of the young people in the family. I was able to look back and appreciate all of the do's and don'ts that they try to instill in us, you know. And it has a lot to do with being extremely reflective at that moment. And understanding that your elders teach you lessons for a reason but as children it's hard to obey them all the time, you know. And even though you have to obey them, it’s almost like you look forward to being an adult so that you can make pour own choices and your own decisions. And see exactly why you weren't able to do what they said you couldn't do.

"Separate" : Like a lot of my music reflects different areas in my life, a lot of my music isn't just about personal relationships in terms of love relationships ; they also apply to my situations per se, maybe with MCA, you know. When I did "separate" I was definitely referring to a personal situation and relationship but it had also a lot to do with how I felt in regard to the music industry. There were times when I felt like I didn't maybe want to do it anymore. Because for me, it wasn't worth it emotionally to make the choice to put yourself through the frustrations and demoniac aspects of the music industry. But then at the same time, the song "Separate" is about being aware and conscious of the fact that there is a reason to separate. I think that it's a plus: being aware that there is a problem and coming up with a solution. (smile)

And you came up with a solution indeed ! (laughs)

Right ! (laughs) 

Are you happy about that ? Do you feel more free now ?

Yes. Well I've always been free in my music, in my singing: that's not an option for me. Otherwise, it's my right as an artist to speak and to say and sing and make music based on how I feel and not how anyone else feels or expects of me. 
Do you feel like a rebel , in a sense?

Oh, yeah, definitely!   

How did you like the show last night? It didn't look that much rehearsed...

When I get on stage and play music, I like for it to be raw and real. I liked the fact that people got to see an honest communication. I think that for some people, they appreciate that too. The fact that it was off the cuff and the fact that it wasn't so staged and choreographed or designed. It's like almost like people witnessing a rehearsal which is even more intimate.

How did you feel the crowd ?

I've noticed more so now that I've been away for so long, people are a bit more intensely listening and watching. Especially since it's been five years since my last album and tour. So they still give me that love and energy but I notice that they're standing in there, focused and listening...

Report & Interview by Fouzia Burfield
© Fouzia Burfield 2005

Rahsaan PATTERSON : "After Hours" [Dome Records, 2004]

Sophisticated is the feel when it comes to the new Rahsaan Patterson's album "After Hours" : a diversity of music styles beautifully combined and delivered by a unique character voice. Patterson effortlessly weaves in and out of jazz and soul in "The One For Me". Although "I Always Find Myself" is funkier, the most upbeat dance track of the album is the seductive "So Hot". Let's get it on with the slow and sexy groove of "Burnin". Just before getting more intimate with "The best" where Rahsaan sings with brutal honesty.The gospelly "Dont run so fast" takes the listener on an emotional journey.In "You make my life so good", the riffs over the chorus make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! The most infectious groove of the album comes on "Separate". "April's Kiss" is one of the most jazz influenced songs. In "Sometimes", the artist mixes jazzy chords with gospel, all carried by a funky beat. Rahsaan really opens vocally on "Forever Yours", a great example of exquisite musical blend. To sum it up, "After Hours" is soul, funk, jazz and gospel, all channeled through an unforgettable voice. It is to enjoy without moderation before and after hours... Fouzia Burfield

www.rahsaan.com
www.domerecords.co.uk

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