Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.
The Powerful Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including 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
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
