Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak success.
Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not 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 catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
