🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Feelings Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience 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 artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened 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 performance featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Cheer Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Thoughts Although the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.