🔗 Share this article

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

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

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

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

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense 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, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.