Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
The Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday 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 Thoughts
While the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
