🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the 90s This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. The Moving Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band. Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Towards the end, the evening turned to the holiday mood with performances 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. Overall Thoughts While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.