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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s 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. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “For 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 grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme 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.

Overall Impressions

While the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.