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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday 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

While 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 result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.