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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.