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The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power 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 shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.