🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Journey Back to the 90s The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band. Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Cheer Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show 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 While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.