Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
