R&B Xmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

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

Overall Impressions

While the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.