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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live 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 declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.