Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
The Moving Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive 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
Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
