R&B Xmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up 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 emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
