Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving 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 rooted in the era of her greatest success.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “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 grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the 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 harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.
Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
