FUSE TV - Essence Fest 2016: Maxwell Reminds Us Why He's One of Our Greats

From the moment it became apparent Maxwell was to headline Essence Festival 2016 the same day his anticipated blackSUMMERS'night album was released, assumptions were made. When Maxwell started releasing new cuts off the album daily leading up to Essence Fest, we figured our assumptions were confirmed; Maxwell wanted us to know the new songs because his Essence set would be filled with them, right? Not quite.

Instead of focusing on new music, the R&B vet decided to run down his impressive résumé of hits and classics. Outside a lively performance of his latest single "Lake By The Ocean," Maxwell pretty much stuck to songs a majority of the diverse audience were sure to connect to, especially in a not-very-intimate venue like the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Plus, when an artist has been away as long as Maxwell has, the best way to convince people to listen to your new music is remind them why they love you in the first place.