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Boris Kozlov

Two-time Grammy Award winning acoustic and electric bassist, composer and arranger, Boris Kozlov has been on New York and international jazz scene for the past 20 years. Currently serving as a Bassist, Arranger and Musical Director for Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and The Orchestra, as well as leading his own projects, he has also been a first-call bassist for such important jazz acts as Michael Brecker, John Blake, Ray Barretto's New World Spirit, Lew Tabackin, David Kikoski, Alex Sipiagin, Jean-Michel Pilc and many others.

Boris Kozlov was born in Moscow ,USSR on December 5, 1967 . Having a chance to go to Children's Music School to study piano for 7 years, he fell in love with the bass and won Gnesin Music Academy competition to enter college at the age of 15 on electric bass guitar. While being influenced by rock and classical music, he took interest in jazz at 17 and went on to study acoustic bass with a notable bassist Anatoly Sobolev. Upon graduation in 1987 with Diploma of Honor at the age of 19, he served mandatory 2 years in the Soviet Army, where he had to play tuba and other brass instruments besides basses in the military band.

Once out of the Army, he was hired by the State owned 'Melodia' Studio Ensemble in 1989 and proceeded to record more than 40 albums with them as well as many other Soviet jazz artists. At the same time he continued his studies at The State Academy of Music. At the First USSR Competition of Jazz Soloists in 1990 he won The Grand Prix as well as a special prize for his original composition. After winning the first spot in Young Musician category in USSR Jazz Journal in 1991 he moved to New York.

The self-study continued in a specific NY jazz environment ,where he was eventually hired by Hassan Williams and Terry Gibbs/Buddy De Franco Band and later by saxophonists Bobby Watson, Bob Berg , Benny Golson, James Moody, Ronnie Cuber, John Stubblefield, Ravi Coltrane, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin; trumpeters Dizzy Reese, Phillip Harper, Brian Lynch ( Grammy 2007), Alex Sipiagin,Ray Vega pianists Eddie Palmieri, Walter Bishop Jr., Michel Petrucciani, Arturo O'Farrill, Michel Legrand, Stanley Cowell, Jon Ballantyne, George Colligan, Orrin Evans, Edward Simon, Helen Sung, Joey Calderazzo; vibraphonists Joe Locke, Bill Ware; guitarists Mark Whitfield, David Gilmore, Adam Rogers, Jack Wilkins, Ximo Tebar drummers Tommy Campbell, Victor Jones, Marlon Simon, Victor Lewis, Jonathan Blake, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Ali Jackson, Antonio Sanches; vocalists Jay Mc Govern, Urszula Dudziak, Monday Michiru; trombonists Conrad Herwig, Robin Eubanks, Andy Hunter; trombonist/vocalist Frank Lacy’s Experience and the funk-jazz band NewHypeJazz .

Diego Rivera: Ofrenda

Read "Ofrenda" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
November 5, 2024

Tenor and soprano saxophonist Diego Rivera has amassed an impressive track record on the Posi-Tone imprint as a leader, sideman, and other projects curated by producer Marc Free. Ofrenda, a ten-movement suite, is a vehicle for Rivera's impressions of aspects of altars corresponding with the traditional Mexican holiday Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). In essence, an ofrenda is usually created by and placed in the home of the family of a person who has passed away.

Album Review

Diego Rivera: Ofrenda

by Kyle Simpler
November 3, 2024

El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a time to honor deceased loved ones. Although the holiday originated in Mexico, many other cultures have embraced the tradition. One of its traditional features is an ofrenda, which is a traditional altar, generally placed in the home, containing several different items ranging from food to religious items. To an outsider, the celebration might seem somber and mournful, but this is not entirely the case. El Dia de los ...

Album Review

Luther Allison: I Owe It All To You

Read "I Owe It All To You" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
August 11, 2024

Radiating an exhilarating, last-set-of-the-night ambiance, I Owe It All To You, Luther Allison's debut recording as a leader, places a premium on momentum, spontaneity and high spirits. An assertive, hard-swinging player residing in the modern, straight-ahead jazz piano tradition, Allison utilizes a bassist and drummer capable of holding down the fort and enriching anything he throws at them. Boris Kozlov and Zach Adleman deftly respond to Allison's changes in emphasis, dynamics and texture. To their credit, they never get in ...

Album Review

Jack Walrath: Live At Smalls

Read "Live At Smalls" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
July 4, 2024

Live At Smalls is trumpeter Jack Walrath's vibrant exploration of contemporary jazz, showcasing his deft leadership and inventive compositions. He is surrounded by an ensemble of stellar musicians including tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton, pianist George Burton, acoustic bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Donald Edwards. The album opens with “Roadkill," one of the seven originals penned by Walrath. IIt rolls out with bristling vitality. The punningly titled “ A Bite In Tunisia" is wrapped up in an ...

Album Review

Luther Allison: I Owe It All To You

Read "I Owe It All To You" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
June 29, 2024

If you're hip to Luther Allison from his previous and continuing work--ivory tickling for breakout vocal star/Grammy winner Samara Joy, sideman recordings on the 88s and drums for notables like trombonist Michael Dease, clinics and teaching engagements aplenty, performances at upper tier venues in New York and across the country and abroad--then you already know the man is adept at delivering real musical messages. Exuding joy in every effort, and presenting with depth and myriad dimensions, Allison is a rare ...

Album Review

Behn Gillece: Stick Together

Read "Stick Together" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
May 30, 2024

While Behn Gillece's Stick Together, the vibraphonist's seventh disc for the Posi-Tone imprint, includes an abundance of highlights and exciting moments, there is something more substantive here than a band of excellent players constantly going full bore. The disc functions within the parameters of tried-and-true modern jazz practices, yet the difference between it and releases that bear a stylistic resemblance lies in a distinctive group sound that stays front and center amid compelling individual contributions. Regardless of ...

Album Review

Behn Gillece: Stick Together

Read "Stick Together" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
May 26, 2024

The vibraphone came to prominence during the Jazz Age of the '20s and has remained a staple in that genre ever since. Over the years, performers such as Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Gary Burton have added to the popularity of the instrument. N ow vibraphonist Behn Gillece is building from this legacy to develop his own unique sound. With Stick Together, his seventh Posi-Tone release, Gillece gives listeners a delightful collection of music which not only highlights his musical ...

Recording

Pianist-Composer Randy Klein Releases Second Two Duos Project "What's Next?" Featuring Bassist Boris Kozlov and Guitarist Alex Skolnick.

Source: Two for the Show Media
October 3, 2012

For the second in his series of Two Duos recordings, pianist-composer, Randy Klein engages in musical conversation on What's Next?, featuring electric bass guitarist virtuoso Boris Kozlov and guitarist Alex Skolnick. What's Next?, is the followup to his 2010 acclaimed CD, Sunday Morning, which showcased Klein in duets with trombonist, Chris Washburne and Russian saxophonist, Oleg Kireyev. This outing summons up the delicate interaction of pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Jim Hall on their classic 1962 encounter, Undercurrent, and the ...
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148

Performance / Tour

Hans Glawischnig (Mon) George Cables (Tue) Samba Jazz (Wed) E.J Strickland (Thu) Boris Kozlov (Fri-Sat) This Week at Cachaa

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 28, 2007

Cachaa 35 West 8th St (bet. 5th & 6th Aves.) NYC * tel 212-388-9099 sets at 9,11 & 1am * $10 cover, $15 min. Menus from selected restaurants available New York City's Newest Jazz Hang In The Heart of Greenwich Village This Week At Cachaca Tue. 28 George Cables Solo Piano Produced by Jill Newman Sets at 11pm & 1am There will ...
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133

Performance / Tour