Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended 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 evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
