🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Feelings The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists. The Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success. Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band. Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Spirit Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Thoughts Although the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.