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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

The Powerful Set

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.

Their set included covers of influences, including a memorable 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 evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Thoughts

While the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.