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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip 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 outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic 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 classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.