Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Recap: An Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
The Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest success.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly 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 vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
