Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set included interpretations of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme 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.
Final Thoughts
While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
