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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke 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 emotional performance. “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, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured 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 Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.