Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.