Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, 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 set included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
