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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

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

The Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success.

However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.