🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Classic Vibes The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. The Powerful Performance The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Cheer Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show 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 hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.