“Kosi is an artist whose wealth of personal and artistic experience can easily be heard and felt in her songs. She writes and sings from a place where only artists with intense passion could. On her new album, Stranger in Every Town, Kosi draws from her experience traveling across the United States as a singer-songwriter.”
Lorens Chuno on Doing Jazz
“I listened to [I Know Who I Am], and man, your voice is incredible. Not only do you have a fabulous and unique timbre, your performances are full of passion and musicality. This album feels very personal and heartfelt. It was great to get to peek into your musical soul for a bit. I particularly liked “Guilty” – the lyrics here are really effective, and man, that sax!”
Christopher Tin, Grammy winning composer [https://christophertin.com/ ] on Oct 10, 2017
“Dearest Kosi. I finally found the time to listen to your album I know who I am. Gosh, Kosi, the first notes took me off guard. A capella for the first track just gave me goose bumps. The more I plunged into the record, the more amazed i was. The album not only shines thanks to your formidable vocal beauty, but the conception, the message, the integrity of this masterpiece is breathtaking. I really can’t say which tracks are my favorites, I just love them all!!! Servant’s prayer has an original structure that nails you to the speakers and doesn’t let you go. There is power in each and every track. […] Thank you for the music. Thank you. God bless you.”
Tri Nguyen, Award winning artist [http://www.tringuyen.fr/en/] on Oct 8, 2017
“Your album impresses me as being extremely personal and heartfelt. It’s refreshingly rich and even raw in feeling, with the beautiful rough edges still showing. It’s a beautiful expression and labor of love from you.”
Max Highstein, award winning composer [https://www.maxhighsteinmusic.com] on Oct 8, 2017
“Ive been listening to your music and I really like your song “Your Angel”. Your voice is one in that the listener doesn’t know where you are going to go with it, has an element of surprise and it’s beautiful! A gift to be able to artfully use the voice in a manner that makes sometimes a slower or pacing song, full of dynamic and surprise…really great job, Kosi!”
Matthew Mayer, Pianist [http://matthewmayer.com/ ] on Sept 30, 2017
“Every song on the CD, I Know Who I Am, by Kosi is VERY different from the other songs on the CD, and yet, there is a central theme…pain, guilt, loss, hope, and searching…all tied together by a voice just OOZING with raw, but controlled, emotion.”
Kelly Triplett, Award winning singer-songwriter [https://kellytriplett.com] on Sept 22, 2017
“As a songwriter, Kosi tells wonderfully crafted stories so deep and intimate it may appear that she’s shared too much, until you realize that a part of you is in there with her. As a performer, Kosi intertwines folk and jazz sensibilities with her unique vocal instrument. A compelling crowd pleaser from the moment she steps on stage.”
John Hayes, Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle
Kosi is a devoted singer who wears her heart on her sleeve, there is no grey area, no stones left unturned, and no feelings to hide. This is a transcendental self-portrait, inspiration culled from the darkest shadows of the soul is hurled into the light. She knows who she is.
by James Nadal, July 26, 2017
In all, it’s a rich, breathing, urgent album and Kosi inflects every measure with unflinching integrity. “Diva” is a hopelessly devalued word these days; we need a new one for singers like this, who stand their ground and deliver the goddamn goods.
by Robert Rodi, January 20, 2017
Her passionate vocals still stand out on this sometimes unusual but captivating album chronicling Kosi’s journey to self-acceptance.
Anna Polovick, January 3, 2017
The level of commitment and stamina required to perform these songs is nothing to balk at, as I’ve witnessed firsthand when seeing Kosi perform them live, and she handles each with a sense of total self.
Tyran Grillo, Apr 27, 2016
The difficulty of effectively performing this repertoire is likely one reason there aren’t many tribute albums dedicated to Lincoln’s music. […] It is impossible to duplicate Lincoln’s delivery and quite difficult to set up a compelling original interpretation of much of this material.
by Matthew Alley on Jan 4, 2016
Kosi has devalued the phrase “unsung hero” by being a valuable heroine of song. The New York-based singer-songwriter has dropped three albums so far in her fiercely independent career. Between the intimate guitar-accompanied One More Cup of Coffee and her full band follow-up Pictures of Us, she had already described a lifetime’s worth of ups and downs for the self-reflective listener. In anticipation of her latest album, Ghosts Appearing Through the Sound, she floated some of the Abbey Lincoln songs that are the subject of its timely tribute.
by Tyran Grillo, October 11, 2015
Kosi knows how to make the music stand on its own; regardless if she’s in a large production on a large stage, or sitting in a chair singing and playing her guitar in a coffee shop. This night, she took you step by step through the history of a people. Her vision succeeded in not only a description and demonstration, but an actual and real visceral experience of an important part of African American culture.
Review by Dawoud Kringle, Oct 7, 2015
The overwhelming characteristic of this album is one of raw emotion, and delivering it is a talent in which this singer simply excels.
by Roger Farbey, published on Sept 7, 2015
The acting, script, editing, and production were all very good for a limited budget. In fact, considering the budget and technical limitations Kosi had to work with, the video turned out brilliantly. One must ask oneself what she could do with a real budget and resources. The answer is clear; we will need to keep our eyes on what she will accomplish in the future.
at Shrine 11/7/2014 w Aron Marchak, Christopher Hall, and Isaiah Pierce
Review by Dawoud Kringle published on Nov 13, 2014
Once again the talented singer managed to convince with her endless talent. Honest songs which tell lyrics in emotional and poetic ways. A big variety of sounds supports Kosi’s vocal range and helps making this record one to treasure.
Review by Vanessa Jertschewske published on September 15, 2014
…music that makes you play along free of any fashionable chic, free of bells and whistles, inherently unique…
by Jeorg Schmitt on Aug 29, 2014
(This review is in German.)
Her music is authentic, from the heart, and her voice is blissful to listen to. She is fulfilling the early promise she showed. She has the range and tone of an angel yet the throatiness and devilment of a banshee.
by Sammy Stein, published on Aug 28, 2014
…this talented singer … should be destined for stardom.
by Roger Farbey published on Aug 12, 2014
This is an album whose authenticity and directness of expression is matched only by its underlying artistic complexity and conceptual nuances.
by Victor L. Schermer published on Aug 3, 2014
Can a person be bold and polite? Can their music supersede what traditional blues emanate, and go deeper, with universal appeal? Yeah…Kosi can.
Review by Pete Carma for StreetCredMusic published on July 12, 2014
This is perhaps Kosi’s greatest strength; her ability to make the listener feel the emotional content of the song. This is something beyond mere chops (which she certainly has). This is in the realm of an invocation; the listener responding on a visceral level and experiencing the story as if firsthand.
at Silvana 6/2/2014 w Angeleisha Rodgers, Brendon Biagi, Aron Marchak, Dan Saulpaugh, Julian Smith, and Isaiah Pierce
Review by Dawoud Kringle published on June 19, 2014
From jazz to blues to neo-soul: it’s all there, pre-tapped and ready to be heard, but with such freshness of vision that it could be from no other singer. This is Kosi’s strength, a raw yet elegant presentation that explodes with originality…
Review by Tyran Grillo published on April 14, 2014