Posted on 12/30/2025 8:10:39 AM PST by Miami Rebel
A veteran jazz ensemble and a New York dance company have canceled events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, intensifying the fallout at one of the nation’s pre-eminent arts centers after it was renamed to include President Trump. The center had previously promoted two New Year’s Eve performances by the Cookers as an “all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul.” But those performances, like an annual Christmas Eve jazz concert hosted by Chuck Redd, are now canceled. The Cookers did not give a reason for the decision in a statement on Monday that said, “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice.” But the band’s drummer, Billy Hart, told The New York Times that the center’s name change had “evidently” played a role. He acknowledged that the group was concerned about possible reprisals. Doug Varone and Dancers, a New York dance company, also said on Monday that it was canceling two performances in April that had been intended to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Mr. Varone, the head of the company, said it would lose $40,000 by pulling out. “It is financially devastating but morally exhilarating,” he said in an email. Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center’s chairman, said in a statement on Monday night that the artists canceling shows were “far-left political activists” and that they had been booked by previous leadership. “Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome,” he said. After Mr. Redd canceled the Christmas Eve concert, Mr. Grenell called it “classic intolerance” and threatened a $1 million lawsuit.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Happy New Tear to you too.
Imagine we can find some non leftist artists and performers that would be happy to perform, and people other than the black tie leftist would love to attend
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It’s not imaginable in DC. It’s saturated with leftists, both limousine and Subaru.
I’ve seen Chuck Redd perform several times, once with his own band and a few times in other jazz bands. I don’t know what his politics are, but I do know a couple people that play with him occasionally are not liberals. His type of jazz gets played in small venues and I doubt he can afford to lose many fans. So being a DC performer Redd faced two bad choices. Cancel the performance and possibly face consequences or play it and have his mostly leftard DC following boycott him. My guess is that he thought the first was the least likely, but the second would be inevitable.
The broadway show Hamilton canceled. The good news is that we don’t have to watch some flitting black guy prance across the stage, effectively mocking one of the founding fathers.
If no one wants to perform there sell it off. Maybe tear it down. When under demonrat auspices they failed to do the upkeep. Apparently the world can do without it.
This isn’t really accurate. Do you think it will be a good idea to tear it down after Trump put his name on it? It would be announcing to the world that he failed.
You described the dilemma precisely.
I dont understand why the Board and Trump didn’t forsee this. Taking overvthe Kennedy Center would have been a win for him. The name part (on a memorial to another President) was too much.
The Midwest has Jazz players. In fact, most local artists are as good as those with notoriety.
Check out Praise & Worship teams too.
His choice, but pretty gutless
There are a myriad of military bands from all branches in the region. These are extremely talented professional musicians. Any one of them could sight read a performance like this and it would be stellar. God love you..
The trustees voted to add Trump’s name after Trump spear headed getting funds to repair the center after decades of neglect by the Demcrats.
“It would be announcing to the world that he failed.“
No it wouldn’t. Trump isn’t in control of the assholes of the world. If no one wants to play there anymore or attend there anymore, cancel the 250 mil upgrade and use the building or land for something else or sell it.
Sue them all.
And cut out all Jazz. It’s degenerate and a favorite pastime of White Liberal Elites...
Uh, not a good look. It would then be that Trump destroyed, shutdown, cancelled, screwed up, sold, etc. the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Not a good idea.
I saw this post on X this morning. You might be interested.
https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/2006077033512886590
EVERYTHING is already not a good look when it comes to depicting Trump, big deal. If they are going to boycott the place what other choice is there? If it’s empty close it.
Not good thinking to close a national memorial to a President. Not smart at all.
I had not seen this. Thank you for sending. Very disturbing, but not entirely suprised given the listed sources. Wondering if anything can be done to hold these “news” organizations accountable.
Liberals—They ruin everything.
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