🔗 Share this article

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For 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 grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

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

Final Thoughts

Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.