🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success. Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For 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, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band. Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Cheer Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.