🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Vibes Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts. The Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage 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 stated earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Spirit Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.