Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “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 finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions 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
Although the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.