R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded 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 glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
