Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble

Six-time GRAMMY-winning musician, producer, and composer Don Was announced new tour dates for his latest group, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Drawing on the wide-ranging influences of his five-decade career, the Ensemble’s album Groove in the Face of Adversity (out now via Mack Avenue Records) channels the soul of the Motor City through a blend of steamy jazz, juke-joint blues, and loose-limbed funk—music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

In concert, Don and the band will perform selections from Groove in the Face of Adversity alongside a live rendition of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah, honoring the album’s 50th anniversary. 

The Pan-Detroit Ensemble is comprised of top-tier jazz musicians from Don’s hometown, including longtime collaborator saxophonist Dave McMurray and Eminem’s Oscar-winning collaborator, keyboardist Luis Resto. Additional members include trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canaday, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and vocalist Steffanie Christi’an. “There’s a unique sound and feel to Detroit that permeates the music in a way that resonates all over the globe,” says Was. “There’s a rawness, a lack of pretension, and an unmistakable underlying groove that reflects the people and culture of the entire city.”.

Part of the TD Bank Jazz Series.