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The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included interpretations of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.