R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

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

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

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

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers of inspirations, such as 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 turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.