🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers known for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Vibes The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest success. Then, deep into her set, she spoke 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 heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits 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 performance featured covers of inspirations, including a standout 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 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 While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.