Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Returning to the 90s

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

The Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.