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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Moving Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.