R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Powerful Performance

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

Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances 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.

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.