Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
The Powerful Set
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive 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 Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
