Pyeng Threadgill, mom of PS 9 2nd-grader Luna

Tucked into a Prospect Heights duplex apartment right off Grand Army Plaza, there’s a little supper club where you can hear world-class musicians perform while eating homemade food, drinking wine and getting to know your neighbors. Call the babysitter? No need to do that, actually—childcare is included in the price of the evening. While you get your jazz, funk, rock and soul on, your kid(s) will be having a pizza/movie party right down the hall.  Best of all, your ticket ($65 per couple, $35 for individuals; includes dinner and wine) supports the PS 9 PTO, helping to pay for the school’s arts programs. Win/win/win.

PS 9 parents Jen and Stephan with guitarist Jamie Fox

This is the second year of this concert series launched in the spring of 2010 by PS 9 parents and professional musicians Jen Chapin and Stephan Crump (mom and dad to Maceo, first grade). Jen is a singer-songwriter hailed as an “uncommon wit” by Entertainment Weekly and “soulfully poetic” by NPR. PS 9-ers are more likely know her as the movie-night food lady who usually has her 2-year-old strapped to her back. Stephan, aka “Maceo’s dad,” is a Grammy-nominated bassist whose work has been called “mind-blowing.”

And it is surely mind-blowing to hear this kind of musical talent in a Prospect Heights living room while your kid eats pizza down the hall. Jen and Stephan perform together with guitarist Jamie Fox as the Jen Chapin Trio, and every house concert also features a special guest who is also a PS 9 parent and a professional musician, performing original music. Turns out there are quite a number of PS 9 parent/musicians to choose from. “Part of the reward of hosting these concerts is witnessing the sense of wonder in the attendees as they discover the artistry in their midst,” Jen says.

PS 9 parent and singer-songwriter Candice Anitra

The most recent house concert, which took place on February 11 and had a Valentine’s Day theme, featured special guest and PS 9 parent Pyeng Threadgill (pictured above), mom to second-grader Luna. While Jen dubs her music “Urban Folk Soul,” Pyeng describes hers as “Indie Jazz Afro Groove.” Past performers have included Andy Friedman, Candice Anitra, John Caban and Brother Hijinx, and Jeremiah Lockwood of Sway Machinery—all of whom have had kids at PS 9.

So far the concerts have raised more than $3,000 for the school’s arts programming—the February 11 concert alone netted $1,090. The babysitters get paid and any band member who isn’t a PS 9 parent is offered payment, but the rest of the goods and services are donated, so most of the ticket price goes to the school. Jen and Stephan provide the grownup food (her vegetarian chili is becoming a community legend), and Brooklyn Pizza Factory delivers free pizzas for the kids. Fermented Grapes has donated wine and desserts have been provided by a few talented PS 9 parent/bakers.

PS 9 parent and composer Sean Hickey

The money the house concerts raise for the school is great, but the evenings are also a wonderful way to build community, Jen says, and people get excited about pitching in. “A lot of parents show up with a six-pack or a bottle, evening finery and big smiles!”

The next house concert will take place Saturday, March 31 and will feature special guest Sean Hickey (dad of Shannon, grade 1). Sean is a contemporary classical music composer whose album, Left Fork in the Road, debuted on the Billboard Classical Top 100 chart. Flutist Brandon Patrick George and guitarist Nadav Lev will be featured performing “Fluff,” for solo flute; “Pair of Pants,” for flute and clarinet; and “Tango Grotesco,” for guitar. Another special guest is still to be announced.

The evening will start with 6 pm kid drop off. They’ll go to a nearby apartment in the same building for pizza, games and movie. Grownups will gather in Jen and Stephan’s apartment and have a vegetarian dinner and drinks before Jen Chapin Trio starts the music around 7 pm. After a short break for dessert, the guest artists will play the music of Sean Hickey. The evening will wrap up around 9 pm. Tickets are $65 per couple, $35 individual and are available now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/228937