Ondřej Pivec and Kennedy Administration with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (PRSO)
Hammond organist, keyboardist, composer, and now producer Ondřej Pivec has, over the years, become one of the few Czech jazz musicians to succeed on the American and international music scene.
From Brooklyn, New York, he's now heading to Prague to perform with the Kennedy Administration band and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra for the first time. The concert is scheduled for Friday, October 25, at the DOX Center.
Ondřej Pivec is well known for his exceptional talent but also for his skill in merging various musical styles. He also has been the long time Hammond Organist for Gregory Porter’s band, with whom he won a Grammy Award in 2017. His other big project is the Kennedy Administration, this funk-jazz and groove band, which he co-founded together with Ms. Kennedy now touring the world. They’re now bringing this project to the Czech Republic. Together with arranger Tomáš Sýkora, they have prepared several of their songs in orchestral arrangements, allowing the audience to hear them performed with a symphony orchestra for the very first time. „I am beyond excited for our upcoming performance with PRSO, especially because it marks our first-ever orchestral show in my cherished hometown. It's a dream come true to perform with a full orchestra, something I’ve long been drawn to. With the brilliant guidance of arranger Tomáš Sýkora, I’ve had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of orchestral music, a journey that fills me with immense joy. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of learning something new,” Pivec shares enthusiastically.
Pivec lives and works in New York, where he has been involved in various jazz, soul, and gospel ensembles. His collaborators include notable names such as Wu-Tang Clan, Gregory Porter, Monkey Business, Vladimír Mišík, and many others. Pivec's ability to seamlessly integrate various musical genres is one of the reasons he is a demanded player in the international music circuit. A couple of years ago he founded the Kennedy Administration together with Ms Kennedy. Together they compose, write perform and produce the distinctive sound which combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, and pop. The band is known for its energetic performances and is named after its charismatic lead singer Kennedy, who stands out with her powerful, emotive voice and distinctive style. “Dreams really do come true! Performing our music with SOCR is a huge honor and what i anticipate to be a uniquely beautiful moment. Excited to share this moment with Ondrej, and cant wait to feel the music,” says Kennedy, addressing the audience in Prague.
PRSO, on the other hand, is no stranger to cross-over concerts. For nearly ten years, they have been organizing a concert series that combines original music from various genres with the sound of a symphony orchestra. “It's our mission to bring the orchestra closer to audiences who might not attend classical concerts. This is a fantastic way to merge our sound with talented contemporary artists and support what they do. We always take great joy in such projects because they create something unique and original,” adds orchestra director Jakub Čížek.
At the October 25 concert, you can expect to hear songs like Be Your Lucky Number, Don’t Forget to Smile, Runway Gate, Taxi, and Let’s Party. The performance will be conducted by French conductor Bastien Stil. For more information and ticket sales, visit the website prso.czech.radio. Don't miss this unique opportunity and come be inspired at the DOX Center.
