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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Moving Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “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, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

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

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

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

Final Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.