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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

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

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform 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 stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.