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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live 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 sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.