Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz [ tickets ], who soon will launch a summer tour behind last year's "Mr. A-Z," has slipped into his schedule a handful of small-venue acoustic dates that are billed as "songs for friends."

The "songs for friends" shows, all of which take place in July, comprise a two-night stand in Chicago, and one-offs in New York City and Saratoga, CA. During the four concerts, Mraz will be showcasing material that he "normally doesn't play during his concerts, as well as songs from his early coffee shop days along with some new songs," according to an Atlantic Records press release. The Chicago and New York performances will feature Mraz performing on his own, while the Saratoga concert will find him backed by an acoustic band.

Mraz's "songs for friends" performances are tucked amongst previously announced headlining dates, as well as a handful of shows during which he'll open for singer Rob Thomas. Details are included in the itinerary below.

The upcoming shows will likely be Mraz's last for some time, and may also be the last ever with his current backing band, the Take It Easy Buddies.

"Touring will end sadly in mid-August somewhere in the world and the Take It Easy Buddies will take a long and enduring break," Mraz wrote in a recent journal entry posted at his website. "Some or all of them may not be coming back as I plan to use the entire fall season to build a new project with new songs and new ideas."

Mraz went on to say that he "cannot comment further on these musical ideas."