R&B Xmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, 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 heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended 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 technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.