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This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest success.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated 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 harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.