🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers known for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Classic Feelings The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. The Moving Set The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle 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 heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band. Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood 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 While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.