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

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Moving Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her set, 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 sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful 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 had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.