R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest fame.
However, nine songs 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 single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance 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
While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
