Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
The Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.
Their set 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 Dash of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
