R&B Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Moving Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood 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

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