🔗 Share this article

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.