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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.