Many of you know that my spouse, Ama Rogan, runs an outfit on the west bank called A Studio In The Woods. I invite you to check out their website and get on their mailing list because there's a lot of cool, amazing stuff going on out there. The Studio is an environmental preserve and artist retreat situated on eight acres of bottomland hardwood forest right by the levee in Lower Coastal Algiers. They offer residencies to all kinds of artists (especially those addressing environmental issues) so they can have more space, time and inspiration to dive deeper into their work.

Ama is a total badass, on a mission to harness the power of creativity and heal the world. She is also a huge reason why Panorama exists, persists and continues to thrive, explore and bring you all this good music. Big round of applause for Ama!

Each artist does a presentation where the Studio invites the public in, serves dinner and folks get to hear what they've been up to. I went a couple weeks ago because I had met Andrina Turenne during Mardi Gras and I wanted to hear her sing. I even had the chutzpah to bring my guitar! After her talk, when the stragglers were sitting on the porch sipping wine, we tuned up and she launched into the old Swamp Pop classic, "I'm Leaving It All Up To You." I managed to follow the chord changes and, while she was singing, it occurred to me that I didn't yet have anything to send for your April song-of-the-month...

Andrina is a bilingual singer, songwriter and musician from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She grew up along the banks of the Red River and has strong ties to her Francophone and Métis roots. She is a natural storyteller and mood setter. I brought my dad to hear her give a porch concert the other day and we were transported to a starry campfire by a quiet lake way up north somewhere. As Andrina likes to say, "Winnipeg is due north of Ville Platte."

So, the day after we played "Leaving it all" together at Studio in the Woods, I popped the question. "You want to record that with Panorama?" She said yes! A couple days later we got together to practice and discuss the form. Then I banged out an arrangement for the band and we met up in the recording studio on Sunday, March 20th.

Unfortunately our accordionist, Michael Ward-Bergeman, was out of town so I booked a sub. But they, as sometimes happens, suddenly realized a schedule conflict on the morning of the session. I didn't panic. I didn't stress. With about an hour to go until downbeat, while we were playing a wedding brunch in the French Quarter, I texted every accordion player in New Orleans (there are more than you think) and it was my old bandmate from the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Glenn Hartman, who replied first. "I'm in the neighborhood and I happen to have my accordion with me!"

You'll hear Glenn deliver the intro before Andrina breaks your heart with the pleas of an outcast lover begging forgiveness. Then dig the return of Tomas Majcherski, who has been in Vermont since the lockdown, with the first appearance of a tenor saxophone on any Panorama recording. He and Glenn each take solos in the 50's Swamp Pop style. Oh, and no clarinet this time because I'm singing back-up.
Thanks for listening, thanks for your support. Remember, “no you, no us!” By the way, this is our 99th song-of-the-month since May 1st, 2014. Next month will be our 100th! Soon as I figure out what it’s gonna be…