UPDATED 5/10/2010: Maxwell has added Erykah Badu and Melanie Fiona to the lineup for this summer’s tour! The tour kicks off in Cleveland Ohio, with Melanie Fiona and Erykah Badu joining the tour on June 11 in Atlanta and performing on select dates

Ohhhhh I think this is going to be such audible bliss!!! Maxwell. Jill Scott. Two Artists. One Night. One Stage. Clap for it if you feel me! These two Grammy-award winning artists and masters of the soul genre are touring together. Check out the dates below to see when they’ll be in YOUR city and hit them up!!

May 21 – Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, OH
May 22 – Palace of Auburn Hills – Detroit, MI
May 24 – Conseco Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
May 25 – United Center- Chicago, IL
May 27 – Bradley Center-Milwaukee, WI
May 29 – Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
May 30 – Starlight Theater – Kansas City, MO
Jun 2 – Key Arena – Seattle, WA
Jun 4 – Oracle Arena- Oakland, CA
Jun 5 – Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
Jun 8 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
Jun 9 – Toyota Center – Houston, TX
Jun 11 – Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA (with Erykah Badu)
Jun 12 – Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA
Jun 14 – American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL
Jun 15 – St. Pete Times Forum – Tampa, FL
Jun 18 – Verizon Center – Washington, DC
Jun 19 – Wachovia Center – Philadelphia, PA
Jun 21 – Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT
Jun 22 – Verizon Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA
Jun 25 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Jun 26 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (with Erykah Badu)
Jun 28 – Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC
Jun 29 – Time Warner Arena – Charlotte, NC
Jul 1 – Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, SC
Jul 3 – Civic Center – Pensacola, FL
Jul 6 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Jul 7 – The Bank of Kentucky Center – Highland Heights, KY
Jul 9 – Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH
Jul 10 – Mellon Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 12 – HSBC Arena – Buffalo, NY
Jul 13 – Bank of America Pavilion – Boston, MA
Jul 15 – 1st Mariner Arena – Baltimore, MD

Grammy -winning singer Maxwell drops the video for Fistful of Tears, the latest single from his epic new album BLACKSummersnight. This is mostly a performance clip for the song, which reminds me – I’ve gotta check him out on tour. In fact, if you don’t have your tickets yet, check the dates here and make plans to check out the crooner on his arena tour with the incomparable Jill Scott. Dope song and video… Read the rest of this entry »

Full band in tow, Maxwell takes over Oprah’s stage with his charity single for Haiti Relief, Fistful of Tears, which can also be found on his latest album BLACKSummers’night (review here). Amazing album, awesome song and excellent performance. If you’d like to purchase this single to assist with Haiti Relief efforts, click here to get it on iTunes. Read the rest of this entry »

In the long line of Michael Jackson songs that have been covered and have yet to be covered, we can now add Maxwell’s name to the roster. At last night’s Grammy Nominations special, Maxwell delivered this soulful rendition, true to the original in many ways but stylized in a way that only Maxwell can. Let me know what you think…

Owwww… can we say sexy? Maxwell’s video for Bad Habits features the beautiful Kerry Washington in a steamy scene that results in both being shirtless and very ummm bad… Maxwell is one lucky dude and right now, he’s the envy of plenty of men – INCLUDING ME!

Fresh off a 7-year hiatus, the neo-soul crooner Maxwell brings his soulful falsetto, full band sound and lyrical adeptness to the first offering from his planned trilogy, BLACKsummers’night. With no guest appearances, this album is quite simply musical satisfaction for the adult pallet, discussing matters of the heart and the world. Led by the lead single Pretty Wings, Maxwell opens the door to his creativity, giving just under 40 minutes of relaxing smooth grooves.

Stop The World comes to mind as an immediate favorite on the album and instant classic, an immaculate love song that carefully blends Maxwell’s rich warm lower register with sprinkles of his signature falsetto sound. I feel the essence of Smokey Robinson in the prime of Motown on Love You, with its old school upbeat groove. The fight for love is a battle that can take everything you’ve got, leaving you with nothing but your own Fistful of Tears, a song that I find myself repeatedly drawn to for its depth. Other highlights include Playing Possum, Cold and the follow-up single Bad Habits.

Maxwell is building the foundation for the future of R&B/soul music with this album. Like his previous albums, this one is solid soul and real music. The only drawback is that there are only 9 tracks but in today’s industry, I’d rather have an album of 9 high quality songs than 14 album fillers. It’s not important where Maxwell went during his time out of the spotlight; all that matters is that he’s back and he’s brought back all the things we loved about him in the first place – minus the hair.

Sound-Savvy officially rates BLACKsummers’night with 5 out of 5 platinum headphones.

Related Posts:
Video: Maxwell – Pretty Wings
Audio: Maxwell – Bad Habits

Yes ladies, he’s really back… Maxwell keeps it simple in his comeback video for Pretty Wings, the first single from his forthcoming trilogy album Black Summers’ Night. The first album in the trilogy is entitled Black and is slated for a set to be released on July 7th. Check out the video here or you can click here for my review of the song…

Related Post:

New Music from Maxwell – Pretty Wings

Mack: So Usher opened the show… he was okay to me, but he’s losing his touch. He lip sync’ed the whole thing
Mello: yea, I agree..the married life has made him put on a few lbs and u can tell in his dance sequences. He can’t keep up like he used to; but nonetheless, Mello is still a fan
Mack: yeah, his face got real tight at one point, like he was trying REALLY hard to keep up. I’m a fan too but i’ve always questioned his ability to sing live…
Mello: SS rates Ushers performances compared to others as BELOW SUB-PAR
Mack: speaking of sing live… what the hell was goin on with Keyshia Cole??
Mello: Heaven Sent was all the way ‘pitchy’. she gave too much, and it sounded as if she were straining
Mack: yeah she sounded nervous…. all that attitude she got and she couldn’t sing the damn song, and that’s one of my favorites by her
Mello: but, she made up for it on Let It Go…
Mack: she kinda made up for it, she was partying so much on Let It Go that she wasn’t even singin the song or remembering the words
Mello: well, I enjoyed that segment. I was @ home rockin wit her
Mack: I did too and Lil Kim actually looked good
Mello: yea, outside of her busting out those pants
Mack: Keyshia’s outfit change reminded me of something MJB would have rocked. And I guess she got tired of the haters cause she got that gap fixed
Mello: that’s signature Keyshia tho… I enjoy her regardless
Mack: I love her too, but babygirl needs to work on her live performances… we’ve seen her mess up too many times
Mello: well, considering I’ve seen her perform live a few times, last night was the most she’s ever worked a stage
Mack: So finally we had someone to really bring it to the stage: my main man Ne-yo
Mello: yea…Ne-Yo made Usher look BAD
Mack: and that Jabbawockeez cameo at the end was a definite highlight. He gets bonus points from me on that one
Mello: Live singing, choreagraphy
Mack: hell yeah… not just choreography… KICK-ASS Choreography
Mello: Ne-Yo is the definition of a true entertainer
Mack: he is… he writes, sings, performs…
Mello: too bad his looks don’t match up to his artistry
Mack: well in his defense, Ashanti‘s artistry doesn’t match her looks!
Mello: sidenote: MELLO is not SHALLOW
Mack: He sang through the whole thing… it was a well-planned out performance… and that song is a banger. Usher might need to deflate his ego a bit and break out the pen and pad. TAKE NOTES!
Mello: and hit the gym… can’t 4get bout that
Mack: right. Now, my personal favorite of the night… Ms Keys!
Mello: yea, I agree… a step up from her tour
Mack: people been sleepin on Alicia’s thickness for a while… I got so many texts last night like “When did she get so thick?” I’ve seen Alicia live 3 years ago, she BEEN thick like that
Mello: she’s built like a thoroughbred stallion
Mack: She could have had a better outfit, but the performance was still hot!!
Mello: the surprise performances
Mack: 3 chart-topping 90′s girl groups on one stage?!??!?
Mello: SS rates that CLASSIC!!!!
Mack: STAMPED OFFICIAL! SWV, put on a few pounds but they still some sistas wit voices
Mello: brought me back 2 my younger days
Mack: EnVogue…. all I can say is WOW!
Mello: the originals
Mack: TLC… I got teary when they were up there. Waterfalls was my jam
Mello: haven’t seen them perform since left eye died
Mack: except that show… R U The Girl
Mello: yea, but… that doesn’t count
Mack: trueIt was great to see them together. Chilli’s got a new single out, gotta post that later
Mello: Jeezy’s performance= unattentive
Mack: yeah that one was lame
Mello: CB… LAWDA MERCY… lol
Mack: lol… it was good, but to be honest… he left us hangin
Mello: I have no words 4 that one
Mack: that was a good look bringin Ciara out. Those two have Michael and Janet potential, I wanted them to do more… Maybe they’ll bless us and do a song together…
Mello: perhaps
Mack: now THAT would be hot! 2 of the best performers in the game right now, doin something monumental
Mello: I’m still waitin on the CB & Rihanna collabo. and u kno the cameras were cuttin in&out on those 2 all night
Mack: yeah, somethin official from them two…
Mello: speaking of which, I loved her performance
Mack: oh yeah she killed it… And she sounded good… people been hatin on her sayin she can’t sing live… her vocals have improved greatly
Mello: I always thought she could sing live
Mack: I’ve been a Rihanna fan since she first came out but some of her live performances needed some work
Mello: she’s matured over time as most artists should do
Mack: but having seen her on tour with Kanye, she’s got it down now… she’s got the vocals right! CB was singin every word right along with his girl. They’re a nice lil red couple…LOL
Mello: we can’t 4get bout Al Green
Mack: oh yeah… talk about unity in music. Young, old, rapper, singer… EVERYONE was singin Let’s Stay Together
Mello: most oldies but goodies bring folks together
Mack: it was good to see him performing, he’s a living legend… and it’s good to see BET honoring the legends while they’re alive… like Quincy. U know how many careers he’s responsible for??
Mello: yeah, but Q must have been nervous, cuz he was stumbling over his words
Mack: yeah i think it was nervous energy… mind was probably racin. And Anthony Hamilton was smooth like butter during that tribute! That’s a brutha that can sing right there
Mello: yea, and his pants were tighter than mine
Mack: LOL… he was goin for a 70′s look Mel…lol
Mello: I don’t care
Mack: oh whoa wait… we forgot… the RETURN OF MAXWELL. Where the hell did BET dig that dude up?
Mello: God Bless Him!
Mack: God bless that voice… now HE is what the game is missing
Mello: I’m anxiously awaiting his return
Mack: he’s gotta do something major… my sister in law promised me a niece or nephew if Maxwell drops an album, so you know I’m tryin to get in contact with him and make sure he brings the pain
Mello: LOL
Mack: What did you think of T-Pain?
Mello: ????? – there u have it. He’s too scattered 4 me to pay him attention
Mack: LOL… yeah, the intro made me think it was gonna be good, but when Flo-Rida lip sync’ed “Low” I diverted my attention elsewhere
Mello: flo-rida is wack
Mack: DJ Khaled… what the hell was he doing?? He was jumpin and runnin around like a kid in a candy store…
Mello: “we the bestttttttt”
Mack: but Ludacris is my dog!! He came out and set some order to that chaos. oh and Mel, as a lady I need you to send Rick Ross a memo: The world never EVER needs to see that mess again
Mello: LOL… he’s small in his mind… “show that gut!”
Mack: well that’s the only mind he’s small in. The first part of Nelly’s performance was hot… I hadn’t heard that song Stepped on My J’s with Jermaine Dupri but it’s kinda hot.
And Ciara came out, she has a verse on that song… she’s so damn fly
Mello: you fell in love? lol
Mack: yeah, but rumor has it that she’s marrying 50 Cent
Mello: more power 2 her… I didn’t catch their performance
Mack: Fergie screwed up her part on Party People… it sounded like she started her verse in the wrong spot, then she looked uncoordinated.
Mello: who else did I miss? I had 2 step out
Mack: did you catch Weezy at the end? with T-Pain… AGAIN
Mello: no sir
Mack: it was okay… nothin to holler about.
Mello: how’d he do?
Mack: the performance was okay… nothin spectacular… but the ending was rather classic all things considered
Mello: what happened?
Mack: He ended his verse of A Milli with the line “What’s a goon to a goblin? Stop it stop it, you ain’t scarin nuthin. Hip Hop is alive, don’t worry I got it!” and he dropped to his knees. When he hit the floor he just looked out into the crowd like he’s ready to carry the weight of the hip hop world on his shoulders. It really made him look like the savior of hip hop and with the streak he’s been on… he just might be it was just classic to me… and i’m really just becoming a Weezy fan