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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

The 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 performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak fame.

However, 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 delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

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

Overall Impressions

Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.