Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
