2001 Election Details

BOSTON, December 17, 2001 -- In a musical celebration and ceremony before a standing room audience in Boston's Tremont Theater on a Monday night, the New England Jazz Alliance (NEJA) announced the names of the first 10 jazz artists elected to the New England Jazz Hall of Fame.

They are saxophonists Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney and Paul Gonsalves of the Duke Ellington band, drummers Alan Dawson and Tony Williams, multi-talented Jaki Byard, cornetist/trumpeter Bobby Hackett, Boston pianist/band leader Sabby Lewis, baritone sax man Serge Chaloff, and Sonny Stitt, who was known for his work on alto and tenor saxophones.

As he read the names, jazz writer Bob Blumenthal acknowledged the presence of the wives and families of Dawson and Lewis and also announced that NEJA, in conjunction with the International Society, opened a New England Jazz Hall of Fame exhibit at the Tremont Theater on Monday, April 1, 2002. According to NEJA president Brent Banulis, there was a jazz program for children as well as an evening concert series throughout April. The first week included the Herb Pomeroy Quartet, a tribute to Gonsalves by Andy McGhee, and a Sonny Stitt tribute featuring saxophonists Dick Johnson and Greg Abate. The exhibit included writings by Nat Hentoff, Eric Nisenson, Ernie Santosuosso, Tom Reney, Bob Blumenthal and others, and photography by Jack Bradley, Nick Puopolo, Ken Franckling, Ruth Williams, Vinnie Haynes, Tom Curry and others.

NEJA and the International Society also presented a concert at the Tremont on Monday, Jan. 21 featuring Victor Mendoza’s Latin jazz quintet. Trombonist Tony Lada followed with his quartet on Monday, Feb. 18. The Boston Jazz Repertory Orchestra also continued its series at the Tremont with a Duke Ellington program on Monday, Feb. 11.

The music at Monday night’s Hall of Fame celebration included "Saxophazz" led by Harold "Bunky" Emerson, the Al Vega Trio, and pianist Chris Taylor, bassist Dave Zox, drummer Bobby Ward, trumpeter Mark Greel, and jazz vocalists Mae Arnette, Mabel Robinson Sims, Karin Parker, Eula Lawrence, Lisa Yves and Fulani Haynes.