Singer Maxwell released his acclaimed debut album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite in 1996, and performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival that same year, when it was still held in The Hague. In addition to artists such as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo, Maxwell is regarded as the founder of the neo-soul movement, whereby he opted to leave out the hip-hop elements, and sought to innovate through energized arrangements and crystal-clear production. The sweet-voiced soul singer has been called the Marvin Gaye of his time, but also counts Stevie Wonder and Prince among his major influences, while he in turn is said to have inspired The Weeknd. So far, the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer has released five studio albums, and has three Grammys and six Soul Train Awards under his belt. His live shows have been lauded as well, with Maxwell's The Night Tour back in 2022 being listed among Pollstar's Top 20 Global Concert Tours.
