R&B Christmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest success.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
