🔗 Share this article

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece 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 theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.