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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt 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 impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.