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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions 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

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.