🔗 Share this article

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

The Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.