Born in Moscow, USSR on December 5, 1967,[3] Kozlov studied piano at Children's Music School before switching to bass.

[3] Kozlov won the Gnesin Music Academy Competition which enabled him to enter college at age 15 and study electric bass guitar.

[3] After leaving the service, Kozlov played with the Soviet state-owned "Melodia" Studio Ensemble in 1989[3][4] and in 1991 won the USSR Competition of Jazz soloists.

[3] Kozlov has played on two Grammy Award-winning albums, the first with Brian Lynch[3] and the second with Mingus Big Band (Live at Jazz Standard) in 2011.

[5] Kozlov has performed with Lew Tabackin,[6] Bobby Watson,[3] Michael Brecker,[2] Alex Sipiagin[7] among others.