🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B. Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on 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 reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Spirit Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.