This story is part of a series about arts and culture in Washtenaw County. It is made possible by the Ann Arbor Art Center, Destination Ann Arbor, Larry and Lucie Nisson, the University of Michigan Arts Initiative, and the University Musical Society.
Detroit bassist and producer Don Was will kick off the “Groove in the Face of Adversity” tour with his newest group, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, on Jan. 9 and 10 at Ann Arbor’s Blue LLama Jazz Club. The tour promotes and celebrates the group’s debut album of the same name, which was released Oct. 10.
Was is a Grammy-winning music legend best known for his band Was (Not Was) and his production work on albums by music legends including Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Brian Wilson. He says his latest album grew out of the same instinct that first drew him to music decades ago: a need to articulate feelings that everyday language cannot fully express. At 73, he adds, that impulse has not faded.
“Conversational language fails to convey the depths of our inner emotional lives,” he says. “Making music is almost an involuntary response. I can’t remember a time in my life where I didn’t sit down to try and get these feelings out.”
That emotional clarity is central to “Groove in the Face of Adversity,” an album Was hopes listeners will hear as both comforting and communal. Rather than offering solutions, the record aims to foster connection.
“The ideal is that you can hear what the musicians are all going through emotionally and relate to it,” Was says. “You feel a kinship and realize you’re not alone.”
After years spent producing records for iconic songwriters, Was found himself creatively stalled. Surrounded by artists he admired, he says he struggled with comparison. That realization pushed Was to look inward and backward, specifically to Detroit, where he grew up immersed in the city’s rich musical culture. The Pan-Detroit Ensemble first came together for what was meant to be a one-off performance as part of the Paradise Valley Jazz Series with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2024.
“Once we started playing together it felt like we’d played together for 30 years,” Was says. “It felt comfortable and natural.”
Was’ long career as a producer also informed the album’s creative process. He says one of the hardest lessons in recording is knowing when to stop. Was approached completion of “Groove in the Face of Adversity” with a more seasoned perspective, unconcerned with charts or accolades.
“I don’t feel like the Billboard charts are like sports,” he says. “I harbor no illusions about hit singles. I just want to make music that makes people feel good.”
That outlook extends to the tour supporting the album. While studio work can feel insulated, Was says, “When you play live, you can tell during the show you’re reaching people.”
“You feel the energy of the audience coming back to you, and it changes your choices onstage,” he says.
For Was, live performance offers immediate feedback and emotional exchange. He says launching the tour in Ann Arbor will feel like a “full circle moment,” having also recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan. He says the Blue LLama is “a great place to play,” citing its intimate size and attentive audiences.
“I can see everyone’s faces and see how the music is landing,” he says.
More information about Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble is available here, and tickets for their Blue LLama performances can be purchased here.
“There’s something absolutely exhilarating about engaging with the audience as the music takes place,” Was says. “When that exchange really happens, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.”
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