🔗 Share this article

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Powerful Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.