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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly 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 crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.