R&B Xmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success.
However, deep into her performance, 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 gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
