After a lengthy absence from recording and touring, Maxwell regained his position at the forefront of contemporary R&B and soul music with an award-winning album and several sold-out North American tour legs in 2008 and 2009.

Now the neo-soul singer hopes to continue his domination of the live music scene this spring with help from chanteuse Jill Scott. The pair has outlined plans for a 16-date arena tour that will launch May 21 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH, and conclude five weeks later on June 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.

The soul singers’ spring-and-summer routing includes gigs on May 25 at United Center in Chicago, IL; June 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA; June 9 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX; and June 19 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Public onsales begin on March 12 and 13 in only a handful of markets on the upcoming tour, with tickets for the remaining dates listed as “unavailable” on the Web site for tour producer Live Nation. More information is available on Maxwell’s official Web site.

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Maxwell is still riding high off an impressive 2009, which saw the release of his first album in eight years, “BLACKsummers’night.” His return to music after such a long absence garnered him a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, as well as six nominations and two wins at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

The acclaimed vocalist launched several tours during his 2008-2009 comeback, including a fall 2008 club and theater tour and a successful summer 2009 arena tour, which was followed by an equally successful fall tour leg.

Scott, meanwhile, is looking forward to the release of her first studio album in about three years. “The Light of the Sun” is slated to hit store shelves sometime in summer 2010.

Maxwell & Jill Scott itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)

May 21 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
May 22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
May 24 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
May 25 Chicago, IL United Center
May 29 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
June 2 Seattle, WA Key Arena
June 4 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
June 5 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
June 8 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
June 9 Houston, TX Toyota Center
June 12 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
June 14 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
June 18 Washington DC Verizon Center
June 19 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
June 21 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
June 25 New York, NY Madison Square Garden