🔗 Share this article

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with renditions 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.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.