I, The Blues — Kogo Blues

About the album

Blues is more than a musical form. It is a way of seeing the world, a language of endurance, and a record of lives often left outside official histories. It was born in the fields, churches, rail yards, juke joints, and city streets of America, carrying stories of hardship, resilience, love, loss, migration, hope, and survival.

I, The Blues is both a tribute and a conversation. It brings together the voices of poets and musicians whose work helped shape the cultural landscape of the twentieth century. The words of Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Waring Cuney, Stuart Dybek, and Jerzy Kossek meet the enduring spirit of Delta and Chicago blues traditions represented by figures such as Robert Johnson, Son House, Charlie Patton, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, and many more.

Rather than recreating the past, these recordings seek to continue its dialogue. Poetry becomes song, spoken word becomes rhythm, and literary voices find a home within the expressive language of the blues.

The musicians

Jerzy George Kossek

KOGO BLUES · Producer · Poet

Jerzy George Kossek is an award-winning blues artist, poet, educator, producer, and cultural advocate whose work bridges traditional blues with spoken-word poetry. Recording under the artist name KOGO BLUES, he explores the intersection of American blues traditions and literary expression, creating performances that celebrate both musical heritage and the power of the spoken word.

With more than four decades of experience as an educator and cultural leader, Kossek has dedicated much of his career to preserving, promoting, and expanding the appreciation of blues music. He is the recipient of a Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award from the Blues Foundation in recognition of his contributions to blues education.

His latest project, I, The Blues, combines original music with poetry inspired by some of America's most influential literary voices, presenting a contemporary artistic vision rooted in the emotional honesty and storytelling traditions of the blues. The album reflects a lifelong commitment to authenticity, artistic excellence, and cross-cultural dialogue.

In addition to his recording career, Kossek has produced concerts, festivals, educational programs, and international cultural exchanges that have introduced new audiences to the blues. Through KOGO BLUES, he continues to honor the genre's rich legacy while bringing a distinctive voice that connects music, poetry, and lived experience.

Markus Görlitz

Guitarist · Composer · Multi-instrumentalist

Markus Görlitz is a guitarist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist born in Eintracht in 1971. He has been involved in music since the age of 8. He plays electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, and keyboards.

His musical identity encompasses blues, southern rock, country, and zydeco. Over the years, he has performed on stages throughout Europe, as well as in the United States and Mexico. He has contributed to over 60 albums, theater productions, and films.

Tracklist

39:17

Note on The Commercial TheatreHughes–Kossek01:25
I, The Blues Part 1Kossek–Görlitz03:37
Queen of the BluesBrooks–Kossek–Görlitz07:47
Love in VainJohnson–Kossek–Görlitz04:51
A Song in the FrontyardBrooks–Kossek–Görlitz03:58
I, The Blues Part 2Kossek–Görlitz02:47
The Knifesharpener's DaughterDybek–Kossek–Görlitz03:13
No ImageCuney–Kossek–Görlitz02:25
Weary BluesHughes–Kossek–Görlitz06:15
The Sun is Raisin'Hughes–Kossek–Berreondo02:19
I, The Blues Part 3Kossek–Görlitz02:20