R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned 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.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.
Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
