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The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Powerful Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Impressions

While the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.