R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with performances 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.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.