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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening embraced 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.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.