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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

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

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions 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 evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.