Kozlov Club

2026年9月4日

The History and Features of Kozlov Club

Kozlov Club, known in Russian as Клýб Алексéя Козлóва, is a prominent music venue that has been a fixture in Moscow, Russia, since its inception in 2012. Originally located in the basement of the former Olympic Stadium, the club has undergone significant transformations, including a relocation in 2017 to a central area of Moscow at Maroseyka Street 9/2. This move marked a new chapter for the club, which is now recognized as the largest jazz club in Europe, boasting four independent stages.

The club’s journey began with its first concert on May 12, 2012, performed by Alexey Kozlov, the club’s president and a celebrated figure in Russian jazz. The official opening ceremony followed in the fall of the same year. Initially, the club featured a single stage with a capacity for up to 300 attendees. In November 2014, a second stage was introduced, expanding its capacity and offerings. However, the original location was closed in December 2016, and the building was subsequently demolished.

The club’s relaunch at its current location was a collaborative effort with Pub Life Group, a restaurant holding company. The venue occupies three upper floors of a historical building constructed in 1872, which was part of the “Left Bank” restaurant complex undergoing reconstruction at the time. The new location’s opening ceremony took place on May 31, 2017, with a performance by the Scott Henderson Trio from the United States. The second stage, “The Mansard,” opened on September 6, 2017, followed by “The Beat” on December 13, 2018. The fourth stage, “Unplugged,” was launched on April 21, 2022, in a nearby building.

The club was established through the initiative of the Alexey Kozlov “ArtBeat” Fund, co-founded by Alexey Kozlov, music producer Igor Sandler, and businessman Sergey Khalin. While Kozlov’s name graces the club in recognition of his contributions to Soviet and Russian jazz, he does not own or manage the club. Instead, he serves as its president and regularly performs on the main stage. The club’s artistic direction is managed by Araik Hakobyan, with Nikita Belykh as the technical manager and Alexey Belov as the chief sound engineer.

Kozlov Club is renowned for its diverse musical offerings, with a primary focus on contemporary jazz. However, it also embraces fusion, funk, soul, progressive and experimental rock, new age, world music, academic music, and crossover genres. The club’s infrastructure includes a sophisticated PA system and a variety of high-end sound and lighting equipment, making it a testing ground for professional gear. Notably, the main stage features a Kawai acoustic grand piano, while “The Beat” stage houses a vintage German upright piano from 1902.

The club’s interior, designed by an Irish architectural bureau, reflects a classic Victorian style with luxurious wooden elements and traditional English drapery. The visual aesthetics are further enhanced by illustrator Victor Melamed, who contributed to the design elements and posters. Kozlov Club also offers daily internet broadcasts of its main stage performances, reaching an average of 200,000 views per gig through Russian social networks and the government-run portal Culture.ru.

In addition to its live performances, Kozlov Club is closely associated with the record labels ArtBeat Music and Jazzist, further cementing its role as a hub for jazz and related genres in Moscow. The club’s activities extend beyond its own stages, contributing to the broader jazz community through initiatives like the Jazzist webzine and related record label.