🔗 Share this article

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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 slightly abridged, rendition 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 moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

Their set included interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.