Noal Cohen's Jazz History Website

Rochester Jazz Club & Concert Bookings - Major Artists - 1955

Date Venue Artist Comments
55/01/04 Squeezer's Beryl Booker and Slam Stewart "Held Over"; Also listed on February 8, 15, 18 and 23
55/01/24-25 Auditorium Theater Ethel Waters
55/02/18 Auditorium Theater Birdland Stars of '55 Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie Orchestra, Joe Williams, George Shearing Quintet, Erroll Garner Trio, Stan Getz, Lester Young; Shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM; Review says Pres played Jumpin' At the Woodside, I'm Confessin' and Every Tub
55/02/25-27 Ridge Crest Inn Bette McLaurin Also Johnny Vieth Quartet
55/03/11-13 Ridge Crest Inn Bennie Green Also Johnny Vieth Quartet
55/03/25-27 Ridge Crest Inn Stuff Smith Trio
55/04/01-03 Ridge Crest Inn Coleman Hawkins Also Johnny Vieth Quartet
55/04/08-10 Ridge Crest Inn Roy Eldridge
55/04/15 Dick's 620 Club Don Elliott Quartet Two weeks
55/04/23-24 Ridge Crest Inn Babs Gonzales, Paul Quinichette "Rock 'N Roll Festival"; also Bill Traikoff Orchestra
55/04/29-05/01 Ridge Crest Inn Wild Bill Moore Also Bill Traikoff band
55/05/02-08 Dick's 620 Club Joe Holiday
55/05/06-08 Ridge Crest Inn Paul Quinichette & Jimmy Rushing Also Bill Traikoff band
55/05/13 University of Rochester, Strong Auditorium Max Kaminsky Sponsored by Men's Student Association
55/05/09-14 Dick's 620 Club George Wallington
55/05/20-22 Ridge Crest Inn Joe Carroll
55/05/23-29 Dick's 620 Club Johnny Smith Quartet
55/05/27-29 Ridge Crest Inn Jimmy Rushing
55/05/30-06/05 Dick's 620 Club Joe Roland Quintet
55/06/04-06 Ridge Crest Inn Wild Bill Moore
55/06/13-19 Surf Club George Shearing Sextet
55/06/13-19 Dick's 620 Club Bud Freeman, George Wettling Bill Barrett, who was in attendance, reports that Dave Bowman was scheduled to be the pianist but was replaced by a college student named Jim Andrews.
55/06/20-07/03 Dick's 620 Club Australian Jazz Quartet Bryce Rohde (p), Errol Buddle (ts, bsn), Jack Brokensha (vib, d), Dick Healy (b,as, ts, f); held over for 2nd week
55/06/24-26 Ridge Crest Inn Joya Sherrill
55/06/24 Golden Grill Louis Armstrong And All Star Revue
55/07/13-16 Boston Harbor Don Elliott
55/07/18-24 Surf Club Erroll Garner Trio
55/09/11 Golden Grill Duke Ellington Orchestra Review in 55/09/12 Times Union; Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Jimmy Woode, Sam Woodyard, Jimmy Grissom
55/09/23-25 Ridge Crest Inn Bennie Green Also Bill Traikoff band
55/10/1-2 Surf Club Harry James Orchestra With Jilla Webb, Juan Tizol, Willie Smith, Bob Marlo, Bob Braman
55/11/15-20 Band Box Al Belletto Sextet
55/11/18 Auditorium Theater Jazz Show of 1955 Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan Sextet with Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer, Carmen McRae, Australian Jazz Quartet; Will Moyle (WVET) presents; In review, "Aussie's steal jazz limelight"
55/11/21-27 Band Box Johnny Smith Quartet
55/11/28-12/04 Band Box Erroll Garner Trio Eddie Calhoun (b), Denzil Best (d)
55/12/04 Town Casino Sarah Vaughan
55/12/09-11 Band Box Al Belletto Sextet
55/12/12-18 Band Box J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding Quintet

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:
Auditorium Theater - 875 Main St. E.
Band Box = Squeezer's - 420 State St.
Boston Harbor - 1 block east of Eastman Theater
Dick's 620 Club - 620 Clinton Ave. No.
Golden Grill = Mardi Gras - 4775 Lake Ave.
Ridge Crest Inn - 1982 Ridge Rd. E.
Surf Club - 752 Edgemere Dr.
Town Casino - 681 Main St, Buffalo, NY