🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience 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, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set featured interpretations 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 Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale 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 hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.