Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Classic Vibes
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles 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 moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
