Noal Cohen's Jazz History Website

Rochester Jazz Club & Concert Bookings - Local Artists - 1955

Date Venue Artist Comments
55/01/07 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also listed Jan. 14, 21, 28
55/01/14 Squeezer's Squeezer's Breezers Jam Session Sunday; Also listed Jan. 21, 28; "Squeezer's where great jazz is a tradition."
55/01/15 Ridge Crest Inn Johnny Vieth Quartet Weekend gig
55/01/28 Ridge Crest Inn Johnny Vieth Quartet Frank Culley, Jerry Santora, Billy Halligan
55/01/29 Squeezer's Squeezer's Breezers Also listed Feb. 4; Sam Tomasino (ts), Chuck Cameron (d), Spencer Walker (b), Joe Squeezer (p); Jam Sunday
55/02/03 Number 1 Bar Joe Mancuso (d), Sam Ansuini (ts), Matt Scherzi (p), Gene Varenti (b) Thursday Night Jam
55/02/04 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also Feb. 11, 18, 25; Max McCarthy (b), Ralph Unterborn (cl), Red Hawley (d), Hank Burger (tb), Bud De Tar (p), Don Hunt (t)
55/02/04,05 Ridge Crest Inn Johnny Vieth Quartet Eva Moore, Jerry Santora (d)
55/02/04 Wintonaire Ken Purtell Trio Also listed Feb. 11; Barney Mallon (b), Bob Fuller
55/02/11 Ridge Crest Inn Walkin' Willie & Johnny Vieth
55/02/19 Colline's Village Lounge Johnny Albert band Fridays & Saturdays; Also through March; Jam Session Sundays
55/03/04 Wintonaire Ken Purtell Trio Also listed March 11, 18, 25; Fridays and Saturdays; Frank Strazzeri (p) on Sundays
55/03/04 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers & Finger Lakes 5 + 1 "12 Talented Musicians"
55/03/11 Band Box Joe Squeezer and His All New Breezers Also March 15, 18; Flo Randall
55/03/11 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also March 25
55/03/17 Ridge Crest Inn The Dunlaps Ray, Bobby, Jimmy & Ann and Dick Flaherty; St. Patrick's Day Party
55/03/18 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers & Salt City Five
55/03/25 Sarli's Frank Gillespie (p) Also April 15
55/04/01 Band Box Joe Squeezer and All New Breezers Also April 08, 15, 22, 29
55/04/01 Wintonaire Ken Purtell Trio Fridays and Saturdays; Bob Fuller, Lowell Miller; Frank Strazzeri or Ray Dunlap (p) on Sundays; Also listed April 15, 22
55/04/01 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Fridays and Saturdays; Also April 08, 15, 22
55/04/15 Colline's Village Lounge Johnny Albert Band Fridays and Saturdays with Sunday Jam; "Martians Welcome"
55/04/15 Ridge Crest Inn Billy Traikoff Friday-Sunday
55/04/29 Golden Grill Salt City Five and Dixieland Ramblers "Saturday Night Special"
55/05/06 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also May 13, 20
55/05/06 Band Box Joe Squeezer and Breezers Joe Romano (ts), Joe Pastorelli (d), Gene Varenti (b), Judy Tremaine (v); Also May 13, 20, 27
55/05/27, 28 Golden Grill Salt City Five and Dixieland Ramblers Battle of the Bands
55/06/03 Band Box Joe Squeezer Judy Tremaine and Breezers held over another week
55/06/03 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also June 10, 17, 24
55/06/08-10 Dick's 620 Club Garden State 5
55/06/10, 11 Colline's Village Lounge Johnny Albert Band Joe Mancuso (p), Buddy Schlegel (sax), Bobby Widmer (d)
55/06/17 Band Box Al Vino To July 4
55/07/01 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also July 08, 15, 22, 29
55/07/08 Ernie's Place Jerry Tracy (g) Quartet Matt Scherzi (p), Bob Prince (d), Albert Adams (Jamaica Jive) (vtb); Also July 15, 22, 29
55/07/15 Buddy's Casino Joe Mancuso and Bill Porter Mary Lou (v)
55/07/16 Pittsford Inn Dunlaps Ray (p), Bob (t), Jim (sax), Dick Flaherty (d), Ann Zona (v); Also July 23
55/07/29 Band Box Chelly Lane Joe Pastorelli (d), Eddie Shanholz (p), Joe Romano (sax), Gene Varenti (b)
55/07/29 Colline's Village Lounge Johnny Albert Band Jerry Taney (p), Buddy Schlegel (sax), Bob Widmer (d)
55/08/05 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also August 12
55/08/06 Ridge Crest Inn Maria Elena and Bill Traikoff
55/08/13 Ernie's Place Jerry Tracy Quartet Matt Scherzi (p), Bob Prince (d), Albert Adams (Jamaica Jive) (vtb); Fridays and Saturdays, Jam Session Sunday 8-12; Also August 19-20
55/08/19 Westminster Park Inn Ray Hackshaw Quintet Featuring Bill Mustard (tb)
55/08/20 Pittsford Inn Dunlaps Ray (p), Bob (t), Jim (sax), Dick Flaherty (d), Ann Zona (v); Also August 27
55/08/23 Highland Park Bowl Jazz Festival 18 Bands sponsored by AFM Rochester Local including: Mike Arena, Len Hawley, John Hartzog, Ray Hackshaw/Bill Mustard, Larry Crosley, Zani Patasin, Cecil & Jenks, Jimmy Covallo, Ken Purtell, Bill Fleig, Squeezer's Breezers, Bill Traikoff, Johnny Albert, Bill Porter, Joe Romano
55/08/25 Club 96 Jerry Tracy and All Stars Jam Session with Jamaica jive (Albert Adams) Sundays; all musicians welcome
55/08/27 Golden Grill Salt City 5 and Dixieland Ramblers
55/09/01 Club 96 Jerry Tracy and All Stars Thursday-Sunday (jam session)
55/09/03 Golden Grill Salt City 5 and Dixieland Ramblers Also September 16, 24
55/09/09 Ernie's Place Jerry Tracy Quartet Friday and Saturday with Sunday jam session
55/09/09 Pittsford Inn Dunlaps with Ann Zona Also September 16, 23, 30
55/09/11 Ridge Crest Inn "Pre-Fall Jazz Festival" Bill Traikoff Orchestra and Russ Ives' Tailgate Ramblers; Also September 18
55/10/07 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Also October 14, 21, 28
55/10/07 Pittsford Inn Dunlaps Ray, Bob, Jim, Don (b), Dick Flaherty; Also October 14, 21, 28
55/10/14 Westminster Park Inn Ray Hackshaw Quintet Featuring Bill Mustard
55/10/18 St. Nick's Hall Mike Arena Orchestra Also listed October 19, 22, 27-29
55/10/28 Westminster Park Inn Bill Mustard
55/11/01 Band Box Squeezer's Breezers With Sal Sperazza
55/11/04 Ernie's Place Bob Prince Modern Jazz Quartet With Sam Ansuini; Jams Sundays; also listed November 18
55/11/04 Pittsford Inn Ray Dunlap Quintet Bob, Jim, Don, Dick Flaherty
55/11/11 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Weekends; Also November 18, 26
55/11/11 Ridge Crest Inn Frankie Nann Trio
55/11/18 Colline's Village Lounge Johnny Albert Band
55/12/02 Golden Grill Dixieland Ramblers Firdays and Saturdays; Also December 9, 16, 23, 31
55/12/02 Pittsford Inn Ray Dunlap Quintet Also December 9, 16, 23
55/12/02 Club 96 Joe Ratalo All Star Band Jam session Sunday, December 4
55/12/07 Club 96 Mike Romeo Quartet Featuring Ken Fess (d); Wednesday and Thursday
55/12/09 Ridge Crest Inn Adelaide Robbins (p) and Bill Traikoff
55/12/10 Club 96 Don Sheldon Swing Four Sam Ansuini (ts), Matt Scherzi (p), Spencer Walker (b); Jazz concerts every Sunday, 3-6 PM
55/12/10 Stage Coach Inn Johnny Albert Band Also December 17, 31

Note: This list is not comprehensive. Many clubs did not advertise their bookings. The information is taken from microfilm of the Rochester Times-Union stored at the main library in Rochester, NY.

Venue Locations:
Buddy's Casino - 302 North St.
Band Box = Squeezer's - 420 State St.
Club 96 - 96 Otis St.
Colline's Village Lounge - Lake Ave. and Latta Rd.
Dick's 620 Club - 620 Clinton Ave. N.
Ernie's Place - 4653 Lake Ave.
Golden Grill = Mardi Gras - 4775 Lake Ave.
Number 1 Bar - 945 Genesee St.
Pittsford Inn - Pittsford, NY
Ridge Crest Inn - 1982 Ridge Rd. E.
Sarli's - 225 St. Paul St.
St. Nick's Hall - Madison and Chestnut
Stage Coach Inn - Webster, NY
Westminster Park Inn - E. River Rd.
Wintonaire - 628 N. Winton Rd.