R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece 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 concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale 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 feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.