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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted 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 never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a standout 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 evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.