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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, 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 profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.