R&B Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her peak fame.
Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
