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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing 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 earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command 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: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of hits 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 glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.