R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional 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 command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
While the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
