🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Performance The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame. However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their live band. Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs 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 theme with performances 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. Overall Thoughts Although the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.