Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching 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 vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
