Diehard music lovers braved the weather to kick off the 30th annual French Quarter Festival, but it’s all sunny skies on the second day. There are dozens of acts from near and afar, and NoDef has picked some must-sees to help fest goers narrow down their schedules.    

TREME -- New Orleans' fragrant spring flowers mixed with the distinctive scent of All Night Drinking this morning in Armstrong Park, as jazz came home to Congo Square for International Jazz Day. The 7 a.m. concert not only featured the rare sight of Herbie Hancock playing for free, but also New Orleans musicians getting up early.

Get those tired JazzFest legs to bed early tonight, or bring your sunglasses if you're staying out all night. Come sunrise, jazz legend Herbie Hancock will unleash a concert that doubles as a coda to the first Fest weekend to the birthplace of the music form. At 7 a.m. in Congo Square, Hancock will headline a mostly local bill for a concert to celebrate International Jazz Day.

With French Quarter Fest in the books, it's time to get ready for the big show at the Fair Grounds. To hold over the hungry mouths, try a smaller jazz festival this week. The headliners even play jazz! Xavier University hosts its own celebration of improvisation beginning tonight with a concert from Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band. The fest closes Thursday with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, a man whose also known for telling it like it is on the Twitter.  Check out full details on the fest here. All events take place at the Xavier Recital Hall.