🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B. Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest success. Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up 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 stated earnestly. Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters 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, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured covers of inspirations, 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 Cheer Finally, the concert embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.