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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak fame.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Thoughts

While the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.