Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke 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 emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
While the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
