🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the 90s The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Vibes The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame. Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle 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 performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Spirit Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.