🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame. Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band. Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Spirit Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood 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 While the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.