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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared 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 delivered a deeply 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 crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, 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 precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.