R&B Christmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
The Moving Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “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 audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
