🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Review: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts. The Moving Performance The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Cheer Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run 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 hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.