Maxwell MTV Unplugged CD

"Whenever Whenever Whenever" was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

For a brief moment in the mid-90s, Maxwell was his generation's Marvin Gaye. This live set, probably his finest moment on wax, features the bonus track "'Til The Cops Come Knockin'," as well as "The Lady Suite," "Gotta Get Closer," and five more.

Riding the wave of young turks delving into old-school soul that includes D'Angelo, Eryka Badu and Adriana Evans, Maxwell's URBAN HANG SUITE heralded the arrival of a balladeer who combined Al Green's seductiveness with Prince's sensuality. MTV UNPLUGGED shows off the live side of this young free spirit whose musical roots reach through the Quiet Storm into some pretty unlikely places. Throughout this EP, the arrangements are lush, the horns caress every groove and Maxwell's creamy falsetto ducks and feints through his own "Whenever Wherever Whatever" and "The Lady Suite." He also takes time to give props to Kate Bush with a crystalline reading of "This Woman's Work." Showing off a knack for the unorthodox, Maxwell closes out the festivities with a completely transformed cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" that moves from a jazz/funk workout to a gospel feel.

International version of the urban artist's 1997 companion to his acclaimed MTV appearance with one additional track, 'Till The Cops Come Knockin'. Also features his beautiful rendition of Kate Bush's 'This Woman's Work' which is exclusive to this release. Of the other tracks, it features the singles, 'Sumthin' Sumthin', 'Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)' & 'Whenever ,Whatever, Wherever'. Another rare track is his very loose soulful take on Nine Inch Nails 'Closer', going by the title here of 'Gotta Get: Closer'. 8 tracks in total. Sony.

Recorded live at The Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Brooklyn, New York on May 7, 1997.

Personnel: Maxwell (vocals); G/Mo (guitar); Gloria Agostini (harp); Gerald Tarack, Matthew Raimondi, Veronica Salas (violin); Susan Poliacik (cello); Andre Roberson (saxophone); Russell Gunn (trumpet); Darrell Smith (Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Michael Neal (bass); Kerry Griffin (drums); Angel Luis Figueroa (percussion); Michael Dickerson, La Tina Webb, Khaliq (background vocals).