🔗 Share this article

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

Their performance included covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to 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.

Overall Impressions

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