R&B Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the 90s

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

The Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured 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 Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood 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.

Final Impressions

While the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.