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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with 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 main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

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

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

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

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.