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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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 somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included 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 Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert 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 Impressions

Although the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.