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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

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

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.