Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
The Moving Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.
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 single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the evening turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance 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 technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
