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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

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

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful 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 experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.