Sat, Jan 9, Rahsaan Patterson

With a voice like raw silk, it’s hard to believe Rahsaan Patterson once sang backup vocals for Martika on the 1980s-era show Kids Incorporated. As an openly gay R&B performer, Patterson’s not just an industry rarity, he also offers a refreshingly modern and sophisticated take on the genre. On albums such as After Hours and Wine & Spirits, Patterson uses his intriguingly androgynous voice—it switches easily between falsetto and tenor—to give added oomph to a sound that layers reggae and dancehall beats with gospel, neo-soul and Prince-worthy funk. Former Kids co-stars Fergie and Mario Lopez can only wish they had his chops. 1013 K Street, www.myspace.com/rahspace.