Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: A Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The beginning 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 era of her greatest fame.
However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
