The holiday season at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has long been defined by a specific, rhythmic heartbeat. For decades, the air in the hallowed halls of Washington D.C.’s premier cultural landmark didn’t just carry the scent of pine and expensive perfume; it carried the infectious, syncopated swing of a Christmas jazz tradition that felt as permanent as the marble walls themselves. But this year, the music stopped. What vanished from the schedule was far more than a simple concert; it was a profound sense of continuity in a temple specifically designed to honor the memory of a fallen president. The sudden silence on the Christmas Eve stage has become a poignant symbol of an institution in the throes of a painful transformation. Continue reading…
