🔗 Share this article

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak success.

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar 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, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

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

Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of hits 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 times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.