Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
