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The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale 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 points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.