🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound 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 displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

The Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply 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 command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful 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 production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.