Pictures of Us by Kosi
Special Thanks to: Robert Martinez Dawoud Kringle Rene Calvo Mother, Abena, and Kwaku Daniel Leeds Jamillah Hawkins Eurydice Kelley and Joshua Bauchner Pete Carma...and everyone else who contributed to the making of this project! Credits: Kosi - Vocals Jonathan Rooke - Vocals Angeleisha "Trumpetess" Rodgers - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Brendon "Notorious" Biagi - Tenor Saxophone Aron Marchak - Guitar Dan Saulpaugh - Guitar Julian Smith - Bass Isaiah Pierce - Drums Produced by Akosua Gyebi Recorded and mixed by Joe Davi at Cathedral Sound in Long Island City, NY Johnny Young at Horizon Sound in Brooklyn, NY Mastered by Jason Otero at Otero Studios in Long Island, NY Drawings by Dejan Vidakovic Photography by Adam Olszewski
Tracks: 1. Wild is the Wind written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington flugelhorn - Angeleisha Rogers Love me, love me, say do let me fly away with for our love is like the wind and wild is the wind Give me more than one caress satisfy this hungriness let the wind blow through our hearts for wild is the wind You touch me, I hear the sound of mandolins You kiss me, and with each kiss my life begins You're spring to me, all things to me 're life itself LIke the leaf clings to the tree oh, my darling, cling to me for we are creatures of the wind and wild is the wind 2. I Already Know tenor sax - Brendon Biagi You'll be so cold I'll be emotional 'll ignore me call me crazy It's obvious what will come of us Because, I already know 're going to break my heart I'll be so mean just to make a scene 'll laugh when I curse just to make it worse I'd apologize for my discerning eyes but love has made me wise Because, I already know 're going to break my heart You'll be so cold You'll still have my soul 3. Brianna tenor sax - Brendon Biagi
drums - Isaiah Pierce I heard a song on the street today and it made me think of, Brianna A soft guitar and if had heard the song just might sing along like "la-la-la" 'Cause every single pretty thing every beauty seems to sing Brianna I saw a dress in a shop window and it made me think of, Brianna The softest colors cascading from the waist would just light up r face like "ah-ah-ah" 'Cause every single pretty thing every beauty seems to sing Brianna I saw a smile from a child today and it made me think of, Brianna 4. The Star Crossed Lovers written by Duke Ellington drums - Isaiah Pierce 5. Pictures of Us vocals - Jonathan Rooke, Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) trumpet - Angeleisha Rodgers drums - Isaiah Pierce These shards, these things, these pictures of us these broken promises, misunderstandings hot on the rocks with a shot of brandy These shards, these things, these pictures of us those cold libations and bitter poisons false expressions on paper frozen Times I made cry times made me hate times I'd wonder why we kept these pictures of the past these cocktails in a broken glass 6. Your Angel vocals, acoustic guitar - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) They call me evil They call me evil I try to do right, but they just tell me I'm wrong I want to be loved, they say I don't belong They say when I cry it's just a trap that I'm up to something They knock me down when I try to be strong A beautiful woman is too easy to blame when something goes wrong, just point the finger at Mame they want to examen all my choices with a microscope and then in their judgement leave me nothing but shame They call me evil But call me angel I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know I've done something worthwhile I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know
I've done something worthwhile I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know I've done something worthwhile And if I'm an angel to 7. Valerie tenor sax - Brendon Biagi drums - Isaiah Pierce Hello, I hope this letter finds doing well I've been blessed, and I have nothing bad to tell I laugh often and I smile often, my life is good But still the thought of comes pealing through just like a bell And I want to know that I still think of I want to know that I still think of Valerie, Valerie, 've been on my mind Valerie, Valerie, do remember me sometimes? I've been to Spain. I found the food to be divine I've been to England, too. I find the people there are fine I've loved and I've lost and I've found love again and yet the tender way we danced that day stays on my mind And I want to know that I still dance down that street I want to know that I still dance down that street Valerie, Valerie, 've been on my mind Valerie, Valerie, do remember me sometimes? Valerie, Valerie, 've been on my mind Valerie, Valerie, do remember me sometimes? Hello, I hope this letter finds Hello, I hope this letter finds doing well I hope this letter finds doing well I hope this letter finds 8. Untitled Art Song (in E minor) vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) guitar - Dan Saulpaugh Cold lips to warm skin Cold ice to warm gin Cold guilt to warm sin How dare do to me what did to me How dare love me? New life to old love
New fit to old glove New push to old shove How dare do to me what did to me How dare leave me? 9. Hoboken Blues vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) trumpet - Angeleisha Rodgers You can come see me baby if that's what want to do You can come see me baby 'cause I ain't gonna go see The other side of that river baby I just ain't going to You see a Hoboken man done turned my head around I got them Hoboken blues, they're dragging me dragging me down So I'm sorry for it baby but I ain't going back to Thursday we were making love all day Love me so good he took my breath away Friday night we got into a fight and he had a new woman on Saturday I got them Hoboken blues and they're dragging me down, they're dragging me down So I'm sorry for it baby but I ain't going back to Sitting up in Harlem having me a beer Waiting for the A train to take me out of here You could be the one and we could have some fun But Jersey, baby, I just don't go there I got them Hoboken blues and it's dragging me down it's dragging me down So I'm sorry for it baby, but I ain't going back to I got them Hoboken blues they done turned my head around I got them Hoboken blues they're dragging me dragging me down So I'm sorry for it baby but I ain't going back to 10. Lovers Song (Be the One) vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) This could be a memory or maybe just a fantasy of when 're so close to me Don't feel the spirit rise when look into my eyes? That electricity? I want to be the one who holds me when I'm shaking. I think could be just what I've been waiting for. Do hear the lovers' song? It's been playing all along when we do what we do. Listen to the melody; look around and then 'll see: I'm the one next to. I want to be the one run to when 're lonely I think I could be just what 've been waiting for.
I want to be the one who takes somewhere higher I want know that I know that I'm ready for more. Tell me that it's just a game that never feel the same? I don't believe a word. Don't know the secret's out? Everybody's talking 'bout or haven't heard?