R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

However, 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 solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits 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 hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.