Friends, Panorama appears to have survived another Mardi Gras in New Orleans (although it's still too soon to say for sure). It was a fun, raucous 17 day ramble, ecstatic at times, stressful at times, through a physically and psychically demanding parade and gig schedule. Now it's over and today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of a welcome period of purification, introspection and quiet being. What better way to welcome in the Lenten season, sacred in the Catholic tradition, than with a lovely Hassidic melody?"Joshua Yaakov," from the pen of Hassidic clarinetist Andy Statman, is a tune which, according to Panorama bass man Mark Rubin, sings of"an intense yearning for spiritual union with the creator." Mark, who plays a sweet F helicon on this track, has also worked extensively with Mr. Statman and tells that"we can never, in this life, reach that moment of communion with the divine so we find ourselves continually climbing, striving, and then receding." Mark explained all of this to the rest of us before rolling tape and we tried to play the music in that spirit.Recorded December 28, 2016 at Oak Street Recording, New Orleans, LABen Schenck - ClarinetTomas Majcherski - Alto SaxophoneCharlie Halloran - TromboneMatt Schreiber - AccordionPatrick Mackey - BanjoMark Rubin - F HeliconDoug Garrison - DrumsMusic composed by Andy Statman, Public Domain and arranged by Ben Schenck, Snack Daddy MusicRecorded, edited, mixed and mastered by Lu Rojas at Oak Street Recording, New Orleans, LAGraphic design by Ben SchenckCover photo by Greg Miles