On Friday, October 22 at 8 p.m., Club W on Delaware Avenue will be hosting “The Bitches Brew,” an evening of jazz like no other.
The show will feature DJ LoPro and Waxing Lyrical, who together will be creating a fusion of jazz and new age music that cannot be experienced anywhere else. “Our DJs are going to open up with a new wave mix of jazz,” said Andrew Whiteford, the event’s organizer. “It’s going to be very hip, new, different and contemporary.” Following DJ LoPro will be a surprise guest, and then Waxing Lyrical will take the stage with their swanky, old-school jazz numbers. They will be featuring the works of Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Nina Simone.
The focus of the evening, initially, was to help promote jazz and the work of these artists in the city. “I think it will showcase that jazz is alive and well in Buffalo,” said Whiteford, who was inspired to host this event after hearing his roommates play jazz and realizing that it was a genre that needed a revival in the city. The organizers plan to host another show in December to continue promoting Buffalo’s jazz artists. Whiteford added that this fusion performance will offer guests something new and different to do on a Friday night, as opposed to the typical club or bar scene that happens every week.
The evening has another purpose–one just as significant as reviving a genre, if not more. The original opening act for the event, DJ Zong Gu, was recently injured in an accident when he was riding his bike and was hit by a car. He is currently being hospitalized in Rochester for head trauma. According to Whiteford, he is making progress toward recovering, but of course, the medical bills are piling up. “Zong has been a huge supporter of local music in Buffalo,” said Whiteford, and that’s why they have decided to turn this event into a fundraiser for him. There will be several tip jars for donations to help Zong cover his medical expenses as he continues to heal.
Thus, the event will be doing good in more ways than one. “I think it’s bringing a lot to the table,” said Whiteford. “It’s not only cheap, but it’s different than anything else out there.”
Admission to The Bitches Brew is only $3 and there will be drink specials all night. The show is open to anyone ages 18 and up. Club W is located at 199 Delaware Avenue. For more information, visit the show’s Facebook page.