🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. The Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak success. However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment. Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable solo 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 Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions While the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.