🔗 Share this article

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles 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 emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

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

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

While the night's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.