Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
The Moving Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
