Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

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

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

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

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.