Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme 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 Thoughts
While the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
