R&B Christmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.
Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened 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 responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout guitar piece 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 performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
