🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Journey Returning to the 90s The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame. Then, nine songs into her performance, 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 deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Cheer Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded 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 night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.