Joe Romano

Born Joe Strazzeri Sr., the owner of Squeezer’s was more widely known by his moniker, “Joe Squeezer.” He operated his self-titled jazz club directly across the street from the Kodak world headquarters, and built it’s reputation for being a small but often packed venue that attracted famous guests such as Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and Clifford Brown.  A classically trained pianist himself, Strazzeri frequently performed at his own club, and let his own eye for music trends inform the club’s playing. “He doesn’t like his place thought of as strictly a bebop joint,” stated Henry W. Clune in his 1950’s write-up on the club, “…he thinks pure bop is momentarily in disrepute.”