🔗 Share this article

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

Their performance featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.