R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties

This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.