Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes
Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
The Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as 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 concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
