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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's 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 live band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.