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The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

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 legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.

Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

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

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.