🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: An Emotional Trip Back to the 90s This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Opening Performances: Classic Feelings Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage 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 stated earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.