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<\/p>\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n Detroit bassist and producer Don Was<\/a> will kick off the \u201cGroove in the Face of Adversity<\/a>\u201d tour with his newest group, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, on Jan. 9 and 10 at Ann Arbor\u2019s Blue LLama Jazz Club<\/a>. The tour promotes and celebrates the group\u2019s debut album of the same name, which was released Oct. 10.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cConversational language fails to convey the depths of our inner emotional lives,\u201d he says. \u201cMaking music is almost an involuntary response. I can\u2019t remember a time in my life where I didn\u2019t sit down to try and get these feelings out.\u201d<\/p>\n That emotional clarity is central to \u201cGroove in the Face of Adversity,\u201d an album Was hopes listeners will hear as both comforting and communal. Rather than offering solutions, the record aims to foster connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe ideal is that you can hear what the musicians are all going through emotionally and relate to it,\u201d Was says. \u201cYou feel a kinship and realize you\u2019re not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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<\/a> with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOnce we started playing together it felt like we\u2019d played together for 30 years,\u201d Was says. \u201cIt felt comfortable and natural.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Was\u2019 long career as a producer also informed the album\u2019s creative process. He says one of the hardest lessons in recording is knowing when to stop. Was approached completion of \u201cGroove in the Face of Adversity\u201d with a more seasoned perspective, unconcerned with charts or accolades.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t feel like the Billboard charts are like sports,\u201d he says. \u201cI harbor no illusions about hit singles. I just want to make music that makes people feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n That outlook extends to the tour supporting the album. While studio work can feel insulated, Was says, \u201cWhen you play live, you can tell during the show you\u2019re reaching people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou feel the energy of the audience coming back to you, and it changes your choices onstage,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n For Was, live performance offers immediate feedback and emotional exchange. He says launching the tour in Ann Arbor will feel like a \u201cfull circle moment,\u201d having also recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan. He says the Blue LLama is \u201ca great place to play,\u201d citing its intimate size and attentive audiences. <\/p>\n \u201cI can see everyone\u2019s faces and see how the music is landing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n More information about Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble is available here<\/a>, and tickets for their Blue LLama performances can be purchased here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something absolutely exhilarating about engaging with the audience as the music takes place,\u201d Was says. \u201cWhen that exchange really happens, it\u2019s one of the greatest feelings in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source concentratemedia.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Don Was (third from left) and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Kory Thiebault 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. 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