🔗 Share this article

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “For 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 audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set 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 Spirit

Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme 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 experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.