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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

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

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

Although the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.