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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.