Six-time GRAMMY-winning musician and producer Don Was announced new tour dates for his latest group, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. The ensemble is touring in support of their new album ‘Groove in the Face of Adversity’, which arrived recently via Mack Avenue Records. This project channels the soul of the Motor City through a blend of steamy jazz, juke-joint blues, and loose-limbed funk. Performances will feature material from the new record alongside a live rendition of The Grateful Dead’s ‘Blues for Allah’ to honor the fiftieth anniversary of that landmark album.
The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features a roster of top-tier jazz musicians from Don’s hometown, including longtime collaborator Dave McMurray and Oscar-winning keyboardist Luis Resto. Don Was describes the sound as a reflection of the people and culture of the entire city. “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.” This record sounds like a timeless and deeply personal exploration of Detroit’s musical heritage.
The tour continues through the spring with upcoming stops at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta and the Phillips Center PAC in Orlando. Was brings five decades of experience to the stage, having produced iconic albums for The Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt while serving as the longtime head of Blue Note Records. The ensemble creates a live experience that balances sophisticated jazz arrangements with an unpretentious, gritty groove. Fans can catch the group across the southeastern United States before they head to the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville this March.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
- Feb 10 – Sarasota, FL @ The Venue at Harvest House
- Feb 11 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Parker Playhouse
- Feb 12 – Clearwater, FL @ The Capitol
- Feb 13 – Orlando, FL @ Phillips Center PAC at Judson’s Hall
- Feb 14 – St. Augustine, FL @ Fort Mose Historic State Park
- Feb 15 – Stuart, FL @ Lyric Theatre
- Mar 26 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat
- Mar 28 – Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival