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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.