Based in Brooklyn, Kennedy Administration is driven by a pair of masterminds—the charismatic singer Kennedy and her musical partner, keyboardist and producer Ondre J., a longstanding collaborator of Gregory Porter. Kennedy, whose musical journey began in her grandfather’s church in Michigan, grew up with few limits on her listening. Everyone from Anita Baker to Ella Fitzgerald, Sade to Michael Jackson, Dave Matthews to Prince, Kennedy heard and embraced. Since moving east, she has worked with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lynn Carrington, Christian McBride, Jeff Tain Watts, James Genus, and Nate Smith among others. Her calling card is a powerhouse soulful jazz voice that combines great influences with a character all its own.
Czech-born Ondre J. was paired with Kennedy by happenstance when the keyboard player she wanted wasn’t allowed in a club she was booked at due to a fight he’d been involved in a year before. The chemistry between them was just right, the show a great success, and Kennedy Administration was born. New York was where their band took off. A six-year residency at Groove on MacDougal Street made them a beloved fixture – and soon the new hot act on the scene. Since 2015, Kennedy Administration has conquered stages across Europe, leaving an indelible mark at prestigious venues. They have played some of Europe and Asia’s biggest festivals, including the Java Jazz festival in Jakarta, and opened for Elton John and many others.
A self-titled debut studio album arrived in 2017 and, in 2023, Second Term. And now—as Kennedy Administration steps out in Washington Square Park—the band’s latest album, Humanity, is being dropped.
September 27 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Bringing It All Back Home to Washington Square
