R&B Christmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “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, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

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

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

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

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

Final Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.