about JohnÂ
"..a great musician, welcoming bandleader and imaginative spirit." - Matt Wilson
John Koozin is a New York City–based bassist, composer, and educator whose work is rooted in storytelling, groove, and the power of community. With a deep quarter note and a distinctive melodic sensibility, Koozin draws inspiration from a wide musical lineage spanning Ray Brown, Paul McCartney, Charlie Haden, and James Jamerson. His artistry is shaped by film, literature, visual art, Faith, and his friends and family.
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Raised in a musical household in Houston, Texas, Koozin attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied at Domaine Forget in Quebec. In 2014, he relocated to New York City on scholarship to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. He has been blessed to study with remarkable mentors, including Paul Ellison, François Rabbath, Linda May Han Oh, Reggie Workman, Joe Sanders, John Clayton, and Renaud Garcia-Fons.
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​As a composer and bandleader, Koozin leads John Koozin and the Neighborhood, an ensemble centered on songs from film, original music, collective expression, and the relationships that shape a musical community of sorts. His recently released album, Sunnyside, reflects his interest in narrative-driven composition, bringing together melodic storytelling, improvisation, and the individual voices of his collaborators. Through his recordings and live performances, Koozin seeks to create music that feels both deeply personal and welcoming, often tugging on nostalgia, always inviting listeners into a shared musical experience.
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As both a bandleader and sideman, Koozin has built a versatile career, performing at venues including Birdland Jazz Club, Lincoln Center, Smalls, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the United Nations. Internationally, he has performed at the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and Star Eyes in Japan, alongside engagements with the Houston Symphony and Metropole Orchestra.
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Koozin has collaborated with a diverse community of artists, including Jasper Shogo Dutz, Patrick Bartley, Kate Kortum, Robbie Lee, Matt Wilson, François Rabbath, the Sunhouse Singers, Arta Jēkabsone, Paul Cornish, Adam O'Farrill, and James Francies.
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John is a dedicated educator and professor, both at The New School and the Waldorf School of Garden City while working with a roster of private students.