🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success. However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits 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 hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.