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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Moving Set

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

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

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

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.