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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through 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 featured covers of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show 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

Although the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.