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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.