🔗 Share this article

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

The Powerful Set

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

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, 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 Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance 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 night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.