🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted 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 not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts While the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.