Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Returning to the 90s
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with 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 Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
