🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B. Opening Performances: Classic Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists. The Powerful Performance The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success. Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly. Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band. Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Cheer Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood 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. Final Impressions While the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.