🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Concert Review: A Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame. However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band. Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as 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 Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions While the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.