🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B. Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists. The Moving Set The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing 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 stated earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature 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 performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band. Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Spirit Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong 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 technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.