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The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

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

Final Thoughts

Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.