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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, 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, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.