R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties

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

Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of influences, including a memorable 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 evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.