Don Was Brings the Pan-Detroit Ensemble to The Princess Theatre

Legendary Producer & Musician Don Was Brings the Pan-Detroit Ensemble to The Princess Theatre

Decatur, AL – The Princess Theatre is thrilled to announce an unforgettable night of music as Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble take the stage on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Known for his genre-spanning career as a musician, producer, and creative visionary, Don Was now brings audiences his most personal project yet: the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, a powerhouse group of Motor City’s finest musicians.

Fresh off the release of their debut album, Groove In The Face Of Adversity, the Ensemble delivers a soundscape shaped by Detroit’s deep musical roots—from jazz and funk to soul and beyond. “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 that reflects the people and culture of the entire city.”

Don Was’ life in music is as iconic as it is wide-ranging. He has won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1989, and in 2014 earned an Emmy Award for his role in CBS’s The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. Since 2011, he has served as President of the legendary Blue Note Records, fiercely protecting its 85-year-old legacy of Black American Music. In 2024, the Americana Music Foundation honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features some of Detroit’s most revered musicians: Blue Note saxophonist Dave McMurray, keyboardist Luis Resto (Oscar-winning collaborator with Eminem), trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canaday, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and powerhouse vocalist Steffanie Christi’an.

This concert is more than a performance—it’s a celebration of Detroit’s living musical legacy brought to life by one of the industry’s most influential figures.

More information and tickets can be found at www.princesstheatre.org.