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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

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

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.