🔗 Share this article

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

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

The Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted 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 not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.