🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

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

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

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

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

Final Impressions

While the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.