R&B Christmas Concert Review: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.
Their set included covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
While the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
