Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
