R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties

This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform 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, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

Their set featured interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas 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.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.