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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

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

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

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

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

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.