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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest success.

However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

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

Their performance included covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the holiday 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.

Final Thoughts

While the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.