Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
The Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show 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 night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
