🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Ball Review: A Emotional Trip Back to the 90s This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Performances: Classic Feelings Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame. Then, deep into her performance, she spoke 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 deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band. Their set included covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Spirit Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.