R&B Christmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.
Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.