🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame. Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Cheer Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of hits 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 performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.