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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

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

However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout 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 embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.