Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Emotional Trip Returning to the 90s
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak fame.
Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
