( Coastal Living ) -- New Orleans without music ? That 's like Venice without canals -- and just as hard to imagine . Music weaves New Orleans ' past with its present , and the infinite jazz variations -- from the ethereal warble of classic Dixieland to the tuba-powered street funk of brass bands -- serve as a soundtrack to this storied city . The best way to keep New Orleans music alive ? Visit . New Orleans music sounds sweeter today , and here 's why : In the wake of Hurricane Katrina , few were certain the streets would resound as they once did . It 's not that clubs flooded and venues were wiped out -- many were on high ground and survived just fine -- but the rising waters took out much of the city 's affordable housing and its tourism industry . That uncertain future made it unclear whether pass-the-hat musicians and hardworking club regulars would be able to regain their footing in the city . But several groups took the lead to ensure that musicians would still have a home in New Orleans . Locally revered nightclub Tipitina 's earmarks its proceeds to help musicians return to town and to put musical instruments back into the flooded schools . Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis , two New Orleans natives , partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build the Musicians ' Village in the Upper Ninth Ward . Today , this cluster of colorful shotgun-style cottages , located an easy bike ride from the French Quarter , is gradually being filled by musicians ( and others ) as volunteers continue to travel here to build the houses . CoastalLiving.com : Beyond Bourbon Street . While some still debate whether the music scene has fully regained its pre-storm luster , there 's no denying that anyone who shows up hungry for the famous New Orleans sound will leave sated . You can still stroll the French Quarter or nearby Frenchmen Street and pass dozens of clubs where languid notes wander out into the muffled , humid air , pause for a moment , and disappear into the night . The best way to keep New Orleans music alive ? Visit . And bring your friends . Go to clubs . Here are four not to miss . Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro has the feel of a speakeasy -- you enter through a low-ceilinged bar into an open performance space that 's at once intimate and grand . With live music nightly , this is a good spot for classic , straight-ahead jazz . Expect talents such as Ellis Marsalis ( father of Branford and Wynton ) , Charmaine Neville ( a member of New Orleans ' first family of music ) , and powerhouse trumpet player Irvin Mayfield with his New Orleans Jazz Orchestra . CoastalLiving.com : Gulf Coast Eateries . Three decades ago , a handful of local musicians was dismayed that piano legend Professor Longhair had no place to showcase his talents . They acquired a bar Uptown ( it 's about a 10-minute cab ride from the French Quarter ) , and renamed the venue after the Professor 's signature song . Today Tipitina 's , a spacious , two-level club in a boxy yellow building marked by a Dixie beer sign , attracts local and touring musicians ranging from inimitable songwriter-composer Allen Toussaint to rising stars such as Troy `` Trombone Shorty '' Andrews . Seating is nonexistent -- assume you 'll be standing the whole show -- but the open space works to your advantage on Sunday evenings , when Tip 's hosts a Cajun dance party , with the emphasis on dance . For the gold standard of New Orleans performance venues , visit Preservation Hall . Carved out of a 1750 Creole residence in the heart of the French Quarter , it 's had the self-appointed mission of preserving local music since 1961 . The audience lines up on the sidewalk , crowds in ( it 's one of the few places in town to enjoy music without smoke ) , then taps their feet along with bands schooled in the old ways of New Orleans . Great local musicians perform regularly , all linked by their devotion to traditional music . Thursdays are typically brass-band nights , where the `` big '' gets put in `` big New Orleans sound . When people imagine a laid-back New Orleans jazz club , they 're thinking of a place like Donna 's Bar and Grill . Smoky and utterly un-self-conscious , the corner bar sits on a fringe of the French Quarter where few tourists happen by . Inside , it 's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter . Black-and-white photos of venerable New Orleans bands hang unevenly on the walls . But the music ! It showcases a revolving cast of local greats , with Monday gigs by George French and vocalist Germaine Bazzle , and rollicking appearances by barrelhouse piano player Tom McDermott . Arrive before the show to get one of the handful of seats at the bar or in front of the low stage , grab a cold beer , then let the music take you away . It 's not too early to plan a trip to New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival , featuring more than 150 musical performances on 18 stages . The event runs April 17-19 , 2009 . For more info , visit fqfi.org . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright © Coastal Living , 2009 .
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro is a good spot for classic , straight-ahead jazz . The music and ambiance are great, the food is delicious Donna 's Bar and Grill showcases a revolving cast of local greats .