🔗 Share this article

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

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

However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.