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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.