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.

Antoine’s students show interest and Annie’s demo hits the mark; Sonny and Linh show interest, but no marks are hit; L.P. Everett’s new case has smoke and fire; heat at the in-laws’ house forces LaDonna to move; Hidalgo discovers a new angle; Janette’s resistance slips; Albert learns he has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Janette, Aunt Mimi and Annie commit to new deals, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Toni may have found the killer she seeks, but Terry is still looking for his; L.P. meets his victim’s family; Antoine plays his bone in Texas; Sonny plays his music closer to home.

In the small New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, they are about to celebrate the first "second-line parade" since the town was struck by Katrina and many of the local musicians and residents are reunited, but even more have not yet returned.

Antoine holidays with his kids in Baton Rouge while LaDonna and Toni look into a local case of mistaken identity. Davis and Creighton decide to take their pain to the masses, while Sonnie leaves Annie for a gig in Texas and Albert accepts an invitation for dinner.

Toni seeks help from a former cop in helping her figure out Daymo. Albert is angry about the lack of lodging, while Davis raises his profile with a television appearance.

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.

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.

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.

Season 3 begins in the fall of 2007, as the neighborhood is shocked by police officers' response to a brass-band procession for a fallen musician. Meanwhile, Delmond and Albert experience different reactions to their new album; Toni finds a new ally in her ongoing crusade for justice; LaDonna is uncomfortable in her temporary lodgings; and in New York, Janette is reunited with Enrico Brulard.

Sonny rushes, but still misses the boat. Fats Domino tickles Davis’ fancy and a few of the ivories. Antoine seeks reading help for Jennifer. Janette endures corporate hell. Toni and L.P. get a witness. Desiree gets a new ally.

LaDonna finally receives news about her brother, who is missing. Albert is forced to take the law into his own hands.

While Davis trades piano lessons for his freedom, Albert makes an unnerving discovery and Annie gets a gig on her birthday.

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.

Desautel's on the Avenue opens softly. Sonny pawns instruments to buy jewelry. LaDonna gets threats from a stranger and support from Albert. Sofia gets evicted for her own protection. Terry finds a case collapsing and his popularity declining. Desiree confronts Robinette.

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.

Antoine does a good deed, and a homeowner suspects Nelson’s deeds may not be so good. Davis fails to sign “Sugar Boy” Crawford for his opera, but Delmond gets his father to sign up for assistance from New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. L.P. learns that his headless skeleton wasn’t always so.

Antoine does the “Cupid Shuffle,” as Desiree’s mother’s house collapses. Annie’s visiting parents learn about her record deal. Albert’s kids learn about his lymphoma. Toni learns about Sofia’s boyfriend. Sofia gets stopped by Officer Billy Wilson, prompting Toni to appeal to NOPD captain Marcus Grayson. Janette has a reunion.

Janette’s restaurant is the talk of the town, but the popularity of a signature dish has her chefs feeling the heat in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Colson’s strained relationship with the rest of the police department comes with a personal risk; Desiree confronts Nelson about his demolition contracts; Annie begins to tire of Davis’ sulky attitude; Albert meets the jazz center’s benefactors; and LaDonna finally finds out what’s behind all the threats she’s been getting.

It’s Carnival time: Toni finds Judge Gatling dispensing judicial orders and potables at Galatoire’s. Janette seeks counsel from Emeril Lagasse and deconstructs crawfish etouffée with Al Roker. Sonny falls on the wagon. As Nelson schmoozes, Annie sits in with the Neville Brothers at the Washington, D.C. Mardi Gras Ball.

Batiste helps a student in a sticky situation. Lambreaux teaches LaDonna the true meaning of "Mighty Kootie Fiyo." Hidalgo meets musician turned activist Davis McAlary. Sonny goes to "see a man about a horse," instead finds trouble. Manager Marvin Frey questions Annie's ambitions; she questions his intentions. Delmond gigs with the great Ellis Marsalis. No longer on the Avenue, Desautel is stumped about what to call her new restaurant. Colson asks to be transferred to a new district. Sofia votes yes to her mother's new living arrangement. Bernette bails out a friend. Obama is elected.

Lambreaux takes Davina on a tour of his old neighborhood. Violence in the streets finds its way into Batiste's classroom. Desautel learns the hard way what's in a name; Bernette learns all is not as it should be at Orleans Parish Prison when she meets the parents of a deceased inmate. Annie takes in a show at One Eyed Jacks; takes home the lead singer. Delmond turns down a gig to be close to home and family. Tensions at work translate to tensions at home for Colson and Bernette. Hidalgo takes McAlary on a dinner date to talk business; LaDonna has a dinner date of her own with Lambreaux.

Desautel brings in the New Year with Davis and Jacques; Davis embarks on a mission to bring music back to Rampart St. Batiste gets a taste of Hollywood South; Annie gets the message "loud and clear" from her manager Marvin Frey. Delmond is inspired to work on a new piece. Lambreaux goes for a night out and over does it. LaDonna takes Alcide and Randall to visit her momma in Baton Rouge. Bernette wants to proceed with a case against Orleans Parish Prison; Colson wants to tell all that he knows.

Davis concocts a remedy for the post-Mardi Gras blues; Annie makes a decision that Sonny takes personally; Janette’s latest chef’s gig gets bogged down; Antoine becomes LaDonna’s unexpected benefactor; Colson warns Albert to avoid trouble on St. Joseph’s night; Creighton is inspired by a classic novel set in old New Orleans.