I've just returned from attending the second half of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, an extraordinary four days of music spread across 12 stages with live shows from 11am to 7pm. The only problem is that you can't be in two places at the same time and there are always at least that many performances worth seeing taking place simultaneously.
The most difficult choice was whether to hear the Neville Brothers or the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who between them closed the festival on its two main stages. Both sets were going to be special, but since the Preservation Hall set was a celebration of the band's 50th anniversary, it seemed the better bet - but only just.
So it turned out, with a magnificent performance including guest appearances from Allen Toussaint, Bonnie Raitt, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Trombone Shorty, Jazz Fest founder George Wein and New Orleans trumpeter Lionel Ferbos - who is 100 years old and still playing highly effectively.
I gather the Neville Brothers were pretty good too.
It turns out there is an opportunity this weekend to catch two of the Jazz Fest acts I missed a little closer to home. The Venetian Macao is holding a three-day carnival which takes New Orleans and Mardi Gras as its theme.
Representing the music of Louisiana are a stripped-down version of the Neville Brothers calling themselves The Nevilles, leading cajun/creole/zydeco band the Pine Leaf Boys, and a New Orleans-style brass band led by tuba player Michael Foster.