🔗 Share this article

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

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

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.