Alfredo Flores, award-winning D.C.-based freelance event photographer

PHOTO STORY

Raphael Saadiq live at 9:30 Club

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

A blend of 1980s classic R&B, neo-soul new school and several odes to the style of Motown-era blues, Oakland, Calif.-born Raphael Saadiq brought his smooth rhythms to the 9:30 Club. Many may remember Saadiq as a key member of the new jack swing group Tony! Toni! Tone!, which had their best years in the late-1980s to mid-1990s. And many of the crowd at the 9:30 Club surely did remember those days as they chanted for Saadiq to sing the band’s seminal hit “Anniversary.” Saadiq teased the crowd by repeatedly asking if “ya’ll ready for Anniversary?” only to go into songs from his solo career. But that’s a good thing considering his soulful hits like "Ask of You" and "Me & You," all sung passionately on stage, Saadiq often clutching the microphone, eyes closed, letting the music take over his soul.