Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: An Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Moving Performance

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

However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance 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 Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with performances 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.

Final Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.