🔗 Share this article

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

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 hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.