🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success. However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Cheer Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.