🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: A Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame. Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their set included interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Spirit Finally, the concert embraced 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. Final Thoughts Although the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.