In early 1997, Brent Banulis, President of NEJA, became an advocate for a New England jazz center on the Boston Harbor waterfront soliciting the support of all parties that could be helpful. As a resident and taxpayer in East Boston, Brent began exploring virtually every political avenue to make the project feasible on the underutilized East Boston waterfront, which offers the most spectacular view of Boston's skyline.
It has become apparent that neither Boston nor its major cultural or financial institutions consider the idea of a free-standing, independent, nonprofit New England Jazz Hall of Fame on the Waterfront viable. The pressures for profit-making, commercial entities are simply too strong to overcome. Therefore, NEJA set aside its goal for a physical Hall of Fame in favor of the portable Hall of Fame exhibit.
These background articles are excerpts from the Jazz on the Waterfront newsletter published by Brent Banulis in 1997 and 1998. Articles were written by Brent Banulis unless otherwise noted.