🔗 Share this article

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their performance featured covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

While the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.