The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival stands as a radiant beacon of America's diverse musical scene. This multifaceted gathering represents an immersive journey across the musical map of America and beyond. Describing its innumerable treasures can prove daunting, as there is a veritable banquet of sound that is impossible to fully consume, let alone encapsulate in a single piece. But in attempting to relay the highlights of the 2023 festival's first weekend, one must reconcile with the abundance of excellence presented.