Jazz Fest takes center stage in New Orleans, giving Treme residents a welcome respite from a challenging year.

Toni's investigation of a post-Katrina casualty gets more confusing at every turn; a routine closing at the bar for LaDonna becomes a disaster; Janette is forced to make a quick trip back to New Orleans to tend to a housing crisis; Nelson ups the ante in his business deal with Robinette; Antoine practices with his new band; Sonny turns to another musician for help when his home is vandalized.

Davis is upstaged by an up-and-coming rapper; Albert's attention to detail irks Delmond; Nelson makes the best of a frustrating situation; Toni questions murder witnesses; Colson moves to the homicide division; LaDonna faces a difficult choice; Annie experiences the good and bad of New Orleans; Antoine changes his tune on his teaching gig. Cowritten by George Pelecanos and David Simon.

As Carnival arrives in New Orleans, Albert unveils his new plumage, and Delmond discovers a new sound; Annie heads to a rural celebration with Harley, while Davis looks for an alibi to party in town; Hidalgo combines business with pleasure on a Zulu float; Toni and Sofia struggle with their memories of Creighton; Antoine club-hops with his sons, while LaDonna avoids the fracas; and Cornell offers Sonny a second chance away from all the revelry; in New York, Chef Ripert gives Janette time off to attend to personal business and Fat Tuesday

Davis' band debuts, but Annie is hesitant to perform her new song. Meanwhile, Delmond runs his fusion sound by Dr. John; Nelson makes a deal with the city; Sofia falls in with the wrong crowd; and Janette mulls moving to a less intense job. Performers include Susan Cowsill and Leroy Jones.

Janette gets a new nickname; Toni relies on Colson for another favor; Sonny finds an unlikely reason to go to the docks; Antoine pays a price for his on-stage antics; Albert and Delmond travel to make their record.

New Orleans' recovery continues as Season 2 begins on Nov. 1, 2006, 14 months after Hurricane Katrina, but the rise in crime gives Colson and the police department all they can handle. Meanwhile, Sofia's emotional distance worries Toni; Albert must find a new place to stay; Annie returns from a national tour; and Delmond debuts his new album in New York, where Janette works in a trendy restaurant. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band perform.

Aunt Mimi and Davis form a record company and sign rapper Katey Red; Janette makes her dramatic departure from Restaurant Brulard; Antoine reluctantly lands a teaching job.

News of Jacques' troubles reaches Janette; Nelson does a favor for Oliver Thomas; Antoine names a deputy. Also: performances by John Hiatt; and Henry Butler.

Despite her reluctance to take on new cases, Toni helps a Massachusetts man who wants to know what happened to his son after Katrina. Meanwhile, Albert plans to cook a Thanksgiving turkey whether or not he has a place to do it; Annie learns the quirks of Davis' music-cataloging system; Antoine considers forming his own band; and Nelson gets acquainted with the local business community.

Lt. Colson worries about the quality of the police department's investigations as citizens and activists prepare for an anti-violence march in January 2007. Meanwhile, Aunt Mimi helps Davis woo a rapper for their CD sampler; Harley encourages Annie to start writing her own songs; Nelson and Ligouri take the next step in New Orleans' redevelopment; Delmond searches for an elusive sound; Albert gets fed up with red tape; and Janette hopes her New York connections can land her a new job.