Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Emotional Trip Returning to the 90s

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly 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 outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.