Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame.

However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.