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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

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

Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.