🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Vibes Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame. However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Spirit Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions Although the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.