John Koozin

John Koozin is a bassist, educator, and composer residing in New York City. He has performed throughout the US and abroad with a goal to invoke thoughts, ideas, and unity through narrative-based compositions and playing. His compositional work and his playing are inspired by visual artists, books, Faith, video games, and his friends.

Koozin grew up in Houston, Texas in a musical family with a creative upbringing. He was fortunate enough to study at the esteemed High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where he studied with artists including Paul Ellison, Warren Sneed, David Craig, Sebastian Whittaker, J.B. Dyas, and more. During this time he also had the opportunity to study at Domaine Forget in Quebec for two seasons, where he worked and performed with Francois Rabbath, Ellison, Ali Yazdanfar, Renaud Garcia-Fons, and more. He was also able to play in the Thelonious Monk Institute for Jazz’s Outreach Program, where he toured and learned from Lisa Harris and Antonio Hart.

Koozin moved to New York City in 2014 after receiving a scholarship to the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Through this opportunity, John studied with teachers and musicians including Jane Ira Bloom, Andrew Cyrille, Matt Wilson, Billy Harper, Chris Stover, Kirk Nurock, and La Tanya Hall. He studied bass and composition privately with a variety of musicians including Linda May Han Oh, Harish Raghavan, Chris Morrissey, Andy Milne, Andrew Cyrille, Ben Wendel, and Chris Tordini.

During his time of study, and since graduating The New School, Koozin has worked with a wide variety of ensembles as a bandleader and sideman. In NYC, he has performed at venues including 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, Zinc Bar, Minton’s Playhouse, Mercury Lounge, at the Lincoln Center Library and at The United Nations. Beyond New York, Koozin has performed at Cezanne’s (Houston), blue whale (LA), The Berne Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Star Eyes (Japan), the Pashkevich Jazz Club (Latvia), and more.

Koozin has worked with artists including Matt Wilson, Dawn Thomson, Vic Juris, Nir Felder Steve Cardenas, Arta Jekabsone, Francois Rabbath, Dennis Dotson, James Francies, Jasper Dutz, Joel Ross, Sebastian Whittaker, and Adam O’ Farrill. He has also performed with the Houston Symphony, The Metropole Orchestra, and the Joffrey School of Ballet.

John Koozin is an established and active educator as well. He directs the music program and teaches bass at The Q Studiolab, teaches bass lessons and ensembles for Jazz House Kids, and works for The New School.