🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Back to the 90s This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. The Powerful Set 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 time period of her greatest success. However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly matching 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 precise and reactive to their live band. Their set included interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Spirit Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Thoughts While the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.