Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble

Drawing from Don Was’ five-decade career, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble brought Detroit’s soul through a mix of steamy jazz, juke-joint blues, and loose funk in their show Groove in the Face of Adversity. The band also honored the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead album Blues for Allah with a live rendition. Members included saxophonist Dave McMurray, Eminem's Oscar-winning keyboardist Luis Resto, and others like Vincent Chandler, John Douglas, Jeff Canaday, Mahindi Masai, Wayne Gerard, and vocalist Steffanie Christi’an. The sold-out show took place at Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, creating a deep and personal vibe true to Detroit’s unique sound.