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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest success.

However, deep 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 gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers 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 Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.