Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored 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 on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their performance featured 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 Spirit
Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
