Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded 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 feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
