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The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted 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 on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale 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 hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.