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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Classic Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

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

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.