Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful 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 feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
