Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
