Thirteen years ago when Maxwell hit the music scene, I fell in love with him.

In my mind, every time he sang he was singing to me only. With his smooth voice and wild Afro, everything about him oozed sex appeal.

Then something happened.

He left me.

Last night I sat at Time Warner Cable Arena in a crowd of thousands, waiting anxiously for Maxwell to return after an eight-year hiatus.

Then finally, at about 9:50 p.m. the lights dimmed, the huge video screens dropped from the ceiling and he emerged.

As soon as he began his first song, "Get To Know Ya," I fell in love again.

Dressed in a black suit and tie with a white button-down shirt, he looked dapper as he held the microphone with stand, channeling Jackie Wilson with his style of dress and slick dance moves.

As he performed on the Y-shaped stage to an arena filled mostly with adoring women, Maxwell owned the stage, gliding seamlessly from one end to the other, full of energy.

His playful and charming personality kept the crowd singing out loud for nearly two hours to favorites such as "Sumthin Sumthin" and "Fortunate."

When he sang "Lifetime," it conjured up memories of romantic nights with my first husband. I think we made a baby to that song. I think it was my son!

Fans yelled, "We love you Maxwell!" as he did "air humps" and gyrated on the floor like Prince. I was surprised that only one woman threw a pair of panties on stage for him.

Throughout the show he urged us to sing along, and we eagerly participated in a call-and-response to hits like "This Woman's Work." His live version sounded as good as his record, and the heartbeat sound effect took the song to another level.

The highlight for me was when I realized that Maxwell had tricks! He disappeared then popped up at different points on the Y shaped catwalk. People stood up and watched the stage closely, trying to figure out where he'd appear next.

The show slowed somewhat when the Brooklyn native sang cuts from his new CD, songs like "Stop the World," and "Fist Full of Tears." Several times throughout the show he tried to talk politics and religion by wishing that we could have healthcare and saying "God loves us all and he wants to bring us together as people."

I kept thinking, "Please, stick to baby-making music" and he quickly brought the show back around with the very sexy "Until the Cops Come Knockin."

I've got memories about that song, too, as I sat there with a smirk watching couples hold each other close while swaying back and fourth to the music.

He closed with "Pretty Wings," as feather-shaped confetti rained from the ceiling onto the crowd.

Some got up to leave while others yelled for more.

True to Maxwell form (he encored twice when he performed in Charlotte in 2001) he came back to finish the show with "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)."

Blacksummer'snight is supposed to be the first installment in a trilogy of Maxwell records. As I watched him leave the stage, I couldn't help but wonder when I'd see him again, hoping he won't leave me hanging for too long.

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