R&B Christmas Ball Review: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout 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 mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.