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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.

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

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.