Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties

The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “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 grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo 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 performance concluded 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 night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.