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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured interpretations of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.