Jam Sessions at the Talkhouse Create 'Pixie Dust' Moments for Nancy Atlas

Influenced by her own participation in singer-songwriter circles in New York City, Nancy Atlas, an East End artist favorite, has brought such jam sessions to the .

Atlas is known for the late night rock and roll shows at the Talkhouse, but on Tuesday nights the atmosphere alters, the tables come out; you can listen to the songwriters at their finest.

"When I was coming up I found it refreshing to play 'songwriting circles' where professional writers would meet weekly to play their own music and create some beautiful "pixie dust" moments of their own by jamming off of others," Atlas explained. Those moments inspire her.  "That's what I call it when everyone loses their walls and some truly mind-numbing music is created." 

"This differed from open-mics in that everyone on the stage was gigging and, believe me, that makes a difference. First off, you got a real chance to showcase your material instead of waiting all night to play one song."

Musicians take turns sharing stories while playing music -- they laugh and have fun. Surprise visitors are common, maybe an accordion will play on a song, and possibly a bass player joins in to finish off the set. 

Atlas said, "it's like having four really good musicians in your living room jamming together."

Gene Casey, a member of The Lone Sharks and one of Atlas' past guests, said, "Many of us are busy working and pursuing our own projects that we don't often get a chance to get together and hear what each other is up to, so this series is great for our little musical community."

Abby Levin is the percussionist every Tuesday night, and provides a backbone to every song.  "As a percussionist the biggest challenge for me is being able to jump in with people and play on songs I am hearing for the very first time," Levin said.  

Past guests have included Caroline Doctorow, a singer-songwriter from Bridgehampton who hosts Songtrails Radio Hour on WPKN with Mick Hargreaves, a bass player from Los Blaggards who has also been featured "In the Round." Also featured were Paul Gene, a well-known keyboardist, and Klyph Black, guitarist, bassist, and vocalist with the band Klyph Black and Rumor Has it. 

"A special kick is having Nancy sing a harmony that she hears, or a guy like Klyph Black play a cool guitar part off the cuff. Impromptu arrangements, on the fly stuff -- and a lot of fun," Casey said 

"In the Round" continues on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. through November. The sessions then pick back up around March.