Don Was Signals Detroit Homecoming With ‘Groove in the Face of Adversity’: ‘Spreading a Little Joy and Comfort Is a Noble Undertaking’

Next year, Don Was volition observe his 14^th day arsenic president of storied statement Blue Note Records. Right now, however, he’s celebrating the impending merchandise of the archetypal medium nether his ain name, Groove successful the Face of Adversity. The task arrives Oct. 10 via Detroit-based Mack Avenue Records.

Groove successful the Face of Adversity finds Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble deftly ricocheting from blues, psyche and funk to jazz and state connected the six-track set, immoderate of which was recorded live. The six cuts see the up-tempo proclamation and caller azygous “Midnight Marauders” (listen here), a 10-minute instrumentality connected Hank Williams’ “I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But Time,” the societal consciousness vibe of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions’ “This Is My Country,” the free-flowing “Nubian Lady,” a 21st period reinterpretation of funk set Cameo’s “Insane” and an archetypal from Was’ ain catalog, “You Asked, I Came” from 1994’s Backbeat soundtrack.

In summation to saxophonist Dave McMurray and Oscar-winning keyboardist Luis Resto (Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”) — some of whom are longtime Was collaborators — the tight-knit ensemble’s different members are drummer Jeff Canaday, trombonist Vincent Chandler, vocalist Steffanie Christi’an, trumpeter John Douglas, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and percussionist Mahindi Masai. Of his handpicked Detroit bandmates, Was says, “We person a large clip playing together. In times of disorder and chaos, conscionable spreading a small joyousness and comfortableness to radical is simply a noble undertaking.”

The nine-piece psyche jazz radical begins that noble undertaking with the archetypal limb of an extensive circuit headlining circuit this fall. Kicking disconnected successful Traverse City, Michigan connected Oct. 8, the trek frankincense acold includes stops successful Evanston, Illinois (Oct. 10), Detroit (Oct. 11) and Louisville, Kentucky (Oct. 15). Additional dates volition beryllium announced successful the adjacent future. Alongside songs from Groove successful the Face of Adversity, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble volition present a afloat show of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah, successful tribute to the album’s 50th anniversary.

Groove successful the Face of Adversity besides doubles arsenic a homecoming 35 years successful the making for the Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-musician and Detroit autochthonal calved Don Fagenson. Was’ puerility emotion of euphony evolved into a commercialized vocation successful the ‘80s arsenic the bassist and co-founder — with person David Weiss (David Was) — of the eclectic, multi-genre set Was (Not Was), champion known for the 1987 Billboard Hot 100 apical 10 deed “Walk the Dinosaur.” From there, Was pivoted to producing projects for (among others) Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and The Rolling Stones; his six Grammy wins see 1 for shaper of the twelvemonth successful 1994. He’s besides an Emmy Award victor for euphony absorption (The Beatles: The Night That Changed America).

Now Was is donning his creator chapeau erstwhile much with Groove successful the Face of Adversity. He dives into the inspiration down his solo effort — and what helium learned astir himself from it — with Billboard below.

Why your archetypal solo medium now?

It sounds ridiculous, but I conscionable didn’t get astir to it [laughs]. I was proceeding the dependable of this set successful my caput for astir apt 35 years. I made a fewer attempts to execute it, came adjacent a fewer times, but determination was truthful overmuch different worldly to bash that I ne'er truly pursued it. A mates of things changed that. Number 1 was doing the Wolf Bros circuit with [Grateful Dead guitarist] Bobby Weir and [former Primus drummer] Jay Lane successful 2018. It reminded maine of a beauteous facet of playing unrecorded that doesn’t beryllium successful the studio: instant transportation with the audience. The feedback you get from them becomes a cyclical question that tin stroke the extortion disconnected the place. It truly whetted my appetite.

Also, [jazz trumpeter] Terence Blanchard offered maine 1 nighttime to execute successful a jazz bid that helium was curating for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He called maine astir 2 years successful advance. Then six months before, I realized I didn’t person a set oregon immoderate songs for the show.

I was successful the workplace with Willie Nelson 1 time and I’m reasoning I tin ne'er beryllium what helium is. Then it clicked —...