Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, deep into her set, 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 profoundly heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

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

Final Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.