🔗 Share this article

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

The Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured interpretations of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.