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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

However, deep into her performance, she spoke 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 declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.