🔗 Share this article

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.