Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: A Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended 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 night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
