Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Moving Performance

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

However, 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 profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired 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 renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.