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Maxwell returns with 'BLACK Summers' Night'

Maxwell will pound the pavement this summer in support of "BLACK Summers' Night," the soul singer's first new studio album in nearly a decade.

The North American run will begin June 20 in Milwaukee, making its way from one coast to the other over the course of six weeks. The 23-city outing wraps up Aug. 2 in Orlando. Venues have not yet been announced. The full schedule is below.

"BLACK Summers' Night," which hits retailers July 7, is the first installment of a planned trilogy. The remaining two records--"Black SUMMERS' Night" and "Black Summers' NIGHT"--are slated for release in 2010 and 2011, respectively, according to a press release. The soul singer reunited with long-time collaborator Hod David for the album's songwriting and production.

The forthcoming set's first single, "Pretty Wings," is available now; the video for the track premiered yesterday (4/28) on BET's "106 & Park" and on the singer's website.

Maxwell, who will headline the main stage of New Orleans' Essence Music Festival July 4, spent much of last fall on the road, marking his first live shows in six years. He performed for the first time in South Africa at the Macufe Music Festival last October.

Maxwell's debut album, "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite," surfaced in 1996 and garnered a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album and double-platinum certification by RIAA. The singer's most recent release, 2001's "Now," marked his third studio album and debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.