For northern fans of Neo Soul, the last twelve months have been extremely rewarding: Erykah Badu played a concert at the Manchester Apollo, though in true fashion, she was unapologetically so late arriving on stage that her set had to be curtailed as her set ran beyond the venue curfew.

Thankfully the undisputed queen of Neo Soul, Jill Scott, had the good sense to arrive on stage at the Apollo early for what was a two-hour extravaganza of some of the best tracks of the genre and her career.

The To Whom It May Concern tour saw Scott returning to Manchester after almost twenty years – and the long wait was certainly worthwhile.

“Welcome to my house, I can do whatever I want to do," attested Scott as she arrived on stage with a set that looked like her home garden for a concert that was blooming with soul, R&B and a touch of jazz, all delivered with warmth and sincerity.

From the opening moments, the emphasis is firmly on musicianship. The performance is a live band show rather than a production built around spectacle, allowing Scott’s voice to occupy centre stage. Tracks from her new album To Whom This May Concern sit comfortably alongside favourites such as A Long Walk, It’s Love, Gettin’ in the Way and Cross My Mind. The setlist also gives plenty of room for the new album, with songs including Be Great and Pressha.

Her three vocalists, Bluu Suede, Gene Noble and Deonis, were as much a part of the evening as Scott, with their dance routines and interplay with the leading lady adding to the show.

A Long Walk remained a particularly potent reminder of what makes Scott special. There was no need to overplay the moment; she lets the groove breathe and allows that unmistakable vocal to do the heavy lifting.

The quieter moments are arguably even more compelling. He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) became a showcase for Scott’s ability to move from conversational soul into full vocal theatre, while The Way provided a suitably emotional bridge towards the finale.

There is humour here too, alongside the sensuality and storytelling. Scott has always been refreshingly direct, and that personality is as important to the performance as the songs themselves. She talked to the crowd rather than preaching at them as she recalled stories of her relationships and the power of love and live music – the audience were instructed to leave their mobile phones in their pockets as Scott wisely asked her fans to “live in the moment".

Naturally Golden, the track that many associate with Scott, closed an evening whereby, by then, the Apollo audience was singing back every word, turning a deeply personal song into a communal celebration.

As the tour credits rolled, almost film-like on screen behind Scott and her band, it felt less like you had witnessed a concert than spent an evening in the company of someone who has something genuinely worth saying – and tonight was definitely a highlight.