For musician Alfredo Merat, all the East End is a stage

If there’s a place to play, Alfredo Merat wants to be there. If there’s a cause he can help, Mr. Merat has his guitar ready to go.

Mr. Merat may have more energy than most. The self-taught musician spent his informative years playing in the clubs of Spain, where he was born, and soaking up French lounge music in Bordeaux, France, where he was raised. Wanderlust struck him early, and so did guitar music.

Once he got his hands on an instrument, Mr. Merat’s thirst for music had him playing Flamenco, rock, jazz and traditional French club music. Latin rhythms and beats are some of his latest favorites. If the music moves, Mr. Merat loves to play it. If it conjures passion in his listeners, even better.

A resident of East Hampton for decades, Mr. Merat has brought his special blend of vocals, guitar playing and improvisation to conjure smiles from his audiences. As a soloist, he’s performed at Saracen, Stephen Talkhouse, Blue Sky, Copa Wine Bar, Gurney’s Inn and many other restaurants and venues.

He’s also lifted his guitar to raise money for charity. Recently, he led Jam Sessions to benefit the Haiti relief effort and Peconic Public Broadcasting’s effort to save public radio on the East End.

“If I know you, my music is yours to help raise money,” he said. “It’s important to know what’s going on around you and help when you can.”

A fan of musical jams, Mr. Merat enjoys having other musicians sit in and do their best. He founded the Europa Jam Sessions, which feature a core of talented musicians. Their ranks include Jay Schneiderman on congas and hand drums, Carl Obrig on saxophone, Alex Sarkis on drums, and Brain Leclerck supplying guitar and vocals, along with Mr. Merat.

The group makes music that Mr. Merat describes as jazzy world European pop music with a “hot and Latin danceable beat” when wanted, according to his recording website, overseasrecords.com.

Whether playing with the Europa Jam Sessions or solo on his acoustic guitar, his love of music and the importance of connecting with an audience shines through. Mr. Merat said being a self-taught musician made him listen closely to music, and emphasized how important it was to be in touch with those around him. He brings this same sensibility when entertaining the crowd with his music.

“There’s an audience, and maybe they’re there to eat dinner or socialize and not there to hear music, but are you going to win them over?” he said. “Sometimes it’s just a look, a nod, that lets you know people are listening. Then it starts to grow, and suddenly two to three tables are listening to you, and it goes from there.”

The connection between Mr. Merat and his listeners has always kept him going. In performances, he liberally mixes original music with well-known favorites, classic French songs with jazz, and whatever other musical style grabs him. He sings in English, in Spanish, in French, and sometimes adds bouts of gibberish. Along the way, he injects emotion into the music to create an experience that moves his audience.

“I’ll do whatever I want and whatever it takes,” he said. “I do sounds with voice—I just let it move … It’s improvisation. It’s sampling. Most of all, it’s music.”

Mr. Merat will perform at the Montauk Music Festival on Saturday, May 15, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Nick’s. Starting Memorial Day, he performs regularly at the Canal Café and the Beach Hut in Hampton Bays. He appears at the Canal Café on May 30 and at the Beach Hut on June 15. For a performance schedule or to hear song samples from Europa Jam Sessions, visit myspace.com/europajamsessions. For information on his recording studio or on his efforts to restore amplified live music to East End restaurants, visit europarevolutionstudios.com.