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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

The Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

Their performance featured covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.