Jazz
Jazz Fusion
Enjoyable
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Groove in the Face of Adversity sounds like a gritty, joyously soulful celebration of Motor City music history, anchoring deep-pocket funk with the exploratory, high-octane freedom of Detroit jazz. Don Was’s thick, unpretentious basslines drive a nine-piece ensemble where punching brass vamps, fiery saxophone solos from Dave McMurray, and Luis Resto’s soulful electric piano interplay over a heavy, syncopated rhythm section. Sweeping effortlessly across hard-bop jams, bluesy strut, classic soul, and George Clinton-esque P-Funk, the album carries an unvarnished, live-in-the-room energy—elevated by Steffanie Christi'an’s raw, commanding vocals. It’s a record that feels less like a sterile studio effort and more like a loose, sweat-soaked neighborhood block party, delivering a resilient, finger-snapping antidote to tough times.