R&B Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Trip Back to the 90s
This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest success.
Then, deep 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 gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
