Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
The Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
