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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

While the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.