Seeing Sounds Jam Session
Neighborhood Music School
New Haven
Feb. 28, 2026
At one point during a jam session on Audubon Street Saturday night, every musician’s face contorted like they smelled something foul. You know: The “stank face.” In this case, it was an unfiltered reaction to a groove hitting so hard it bordered on overwhelming.
The glorious outpouring of artistry that was the Seeing Sounds Jam at Neighborhood Music School inspired all sorts of jubilant reactions. Sometimes it came in the form of a saucy shake of a tambourine from the audience or a person getting up to dance because their spirit was moved. The music couldn’t even be contained to the stage. At one point, a gentleman stood up in the audience and let his electric guitar scream.
“We vibe out. We just flow. We’re big on improvisation here,” said Trey Moore, organizer of the night’s jam. “We exist to give people exposure and experience. If you’re a musician and you’ve never played a festival before or never played a stage, here’s your chance.”
Seeing Sounds, Moore’s creative brand and cultural hub that uplifts independent artists, partnered with Neighborhood Music School beginning last year to provide these jams for the community, free of charge, about once a month in the winter and spring.
“We wanted to provide a third space, and live music that’s collaborative. There are places in New Haven where you can go enjoy a band, but not many places where you can go be a part of the band,” said Brie Louis, Neighborhood Music School’s creative development coordinator, dance teacher, and Audubon Arts assistant director,
The jam session is an enriching ecosystem of giving back. DELTA, Neighborhood Music School’s leadership program, sponsors the Seeing Sounds Jam Session. An hour before each jam, DELTA students participate in a workshop in which they jam alongside Seeing Sounds’ house band.
“Watching these kids find their voice and confidence in what they’re doing is pretty awesome,” raved Jenny Nelson, senior director of programs at Neighborhood Music School.
Frankly, everything was awesome to watch on Saturday evening, starting with the very beginning of the jam session. To see a few tentative notes expand into a full-on soulful song was a spiritual experience. The drums, piano, saxophone, bass and guitar perfectly balanced one another, each voice distinct yet locked in careful conversation.
The jam session went on for three straight hours. For the audience, at least, the three hours sped by in a joyous rush.
“If you’re a musician or a singer, come out. I’m sweating,” plead Moore as he played the bass, heading into hour two of the session. He also sang and played the tambourine.
Some of the most trepidatious artists displayed some of the most outstanding talent. A magenta-haired woman was the first to come up. She sang her heart out to a gospel song, a pivot from the evening’s vibe.
“I’m nervous,” whispered New Haven based rapper Jamilia “4EVA” James into the mic before she launched into a mind-bending freestyle that praised God’s interventions in her life. She led the audience in a thrilling call and response. The left side rapped, “Wait, wait, wait, wait…” while the right side sang, “On Goddddd!”
Vocalists Shay Alyse and Diasha Johnson brought the house down – Alyse with a rapturous remix of D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does it Feel)” and Johnson with a sublime cover of Jill Scott’s “The Way.”
Every singer, rapper and musician who was brave enough to get up there and showcase their passion brought their own unique style that the band was able to seamlessly twist itself around. The band met each artist where they stood, stretching, pivoting, and reshaping the groove in real time.
That elasticity is what makes a Seeing Sounds Jam Session unpredictable. You never quite know who will emerge from the crowd and into the light. Local legends slipped in and out of the rotation – Ryan Sands locking down the drums, Frank E. Brady delivering aninspired, off-the-dome rap. When New Haven’s first poet laureate, Sharmont “Influence” Little, took the mic to remind us that “New Haven is the heart of the arts, the heart of talent,” it sounded like proof.
The proof was in the sheer breadth of artistry displayed Saturday night. It was incredible to watch the multi-instrumentalists onstage switch between disparate instruments with ease. The drums were popular as a few people hopped from their instruments – piano, saxophone, bass – to pound on them. One bassist wandered over to stroke the Steinway. A drummer stepped from behind the cymbals to join a friend in singing a tender rendition of Sam Smith’s “I’m Not the Only One.”
One of the multi-instrumentalistswho performed with the band on Saturday night was Neighborhood Music School student Dontae James. He plays the saxophone, keyboard, drums and is learning the flute and clarinet.
“I love to be a part of this community. The energy is amazing,” James said. “The musicians who come through are world class. They do things that just blow your mind. When I was up there, I was trying to be helpful. I told myself, don’t try to play every note. Try to leave some space and listen for others.”
James’ philosophy tied in neatly with Moore’s message to close out the session. He reminded us, “Don’t forget to be in community with one another. It’s what this is all about.”
The next Seeing Sounds Jam is planned for the spring; stay tuned for the date. For more information on Seeing Sounds, visit their Instagram and website. To learn more about Neighborhood Music School’s DELTA Program, click here.
