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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong 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 production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.