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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a standout 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 turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.