Dallas: Kessler Theater « All Events
Dallas: Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble at The Kessler Theater
October 2 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Don Was Kessler Theater Show
Don Was Kessler Theater tickets are on sale for Friday, October 2. The veteran producer and Blue Note Records president brings his Pan-Detroit Ensemble to Oak Cliff. Was has won six Grammy Awards for his work behind the board. Those wins include Album of the Year in 1989 for Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time and Producer of the Year in 1994. Since 2011, he has also led venerated jazz label Blue Note Records. Even so, he keeps finding time to perform.
The Pan-Detroit Ensemble reunites Was with stellar jazz musicians from his hometown. The lineup includes Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, Vincent Chandler, John Douglas, Jeff Canady, Mahindi Masai, Wayne Gerard, and Steffanie Christi’an. Their debut album is called Groove in the Face of Adversity. It channels the soul of the Motor City through steamy jazz, juke-joint blues, and loose-limbed funk. The set list mixes original material with songs by Yusef Lateef, Olu Dara, and Henry Threadgill. Because the lineup runs so deep, expect a genuinely improvisational night on stage.
About the Kessler Theater
The Kessler Theater has anchored the Oak Cliff neighborhood since opening in 1942. The Art Deco building was once owned by singing cowboy Gene Autry. Since its restoration and reopening as a live music venue, the Kessler Theater has built a reputation for pristine acoustics. Its intimate room puts fans close to the stage. As a result, touring artists across genres consistently rank it among their favorite stops in Texas.
Show Details & Tickets
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble take the stage at The Kessler Theater, 1230 W Davis St in Dallas, on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM. Doors typically open about an hour before showtime. Tickets are available now through StubHub.
Get Don Was tickets on StubHub
Because the Kessler books such a wide range of touring artists, Oak Cliff residents rarely have to leave the neighborhood for a great show. Browse the full calendar of upcoming Kessler Theater concerts on Texas Music Map to plan your next night out in Dallas.