It's a good bet that most of us have heard people say they don't like jazz, or even worse, drop the H-bomb: "I hate jazz." If you choose to engage them, the key is to tread lightly and tailor an approach that considers their tastes and sensibilities. This So You Don't Like Jazz column explores ways to do just that.

One particularly effective approach is to ignore labels and concentrate on the joy of music. To that end, this time, we'll focus on performances from the annual Kennedy Center Honors galas. This list is primarily drawn from the past ten years due to the availability of higher- quality video. While there is an emphasis on popular music, the list also features tributes to some jazz icons.

President Dwight Eisenhower is perhaps best remembered for eight years of peace and prosperity, the interstate highway system, and his warning about the dangers of the military-industrial complex. Another one of his achievements was the creation of the National Cultural Center, which he signed into law in 1958. The idea was then championed by his successor, President John Kennedy, and renamed in his honor after his tragic death.

The Center's declared mission is to present "world-class art by the artists that define our culture today." Of course, there is a commingling of political and entertainment elites and a sense that politicians are granting themselves the ultimate backstage pass. Nonetheless, this celebration of the arts also serves the public, and the artists receive the honor and recognition they deserve.

Inductees are selected by a Special Honors Advisory Committee. The weekend-long event includes an invitation-only luncheon, a State Department dinner, and (political climate permitting) a White House reception culminating in the gala performances and supper. During the event, honorees are seated alongside dignitaries. The gala performances are recorded, edited and broadcast at a later date. One of the real joys of the gala performances is the genuine emotion displayed by honorees watching their peers performing their music.

Some of the first musical honorees from the '70s and '80s included: