Born in Merano, 1941, Franco D'Andrea started playing piano at 17, after some expreriences with trumpet and soprano sax. In 1963 he began his professional activity with Nunzio Rotondo at RAI, Rome. In 1961 his first recording with Gato Barbieri, in whose band he's been playing for two years. In 1968 he founded with Franco Tonani and Bruno Tommaso the "Modern Art Trio".From 1972 to 1977 he played with the jazz rock group "Perigeo". In 1978 he formed his own trio with Dodo Goya and Bruno Biriaco, taking on at the same time solo piano concerts as well as an intensive teaching activity.
In 1981 he founded a quartet, with Tino Tracanna, Attilio Zanchi, Gianni Cazzola. In 1986 the percussion player Luis Agudo and then the trombonist Glenn Ferris, the percussionist Naco and the vibraphonist Saverio Tasca joined the band.
Recently he formed with the trumpet player David Boato and Naco a new trio named "Current Changes".
During his career Franco D'Andrea played with many important jazz musicians as Pepper Adams, Barry Altschul, Gato Barbieri, Don Byas, Conte Candoli, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielsson, Joe Farrell, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, Mark Helias, Daniel Humair, Jimmy Knepper, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Victor Lewis, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Albert Mangelsdorff, Hank Moebly, Paul Motian, Jean Luc Ponty, Enrico Rava, Frank Rosolino, Max Roach, Aldo Romano, Martial Solal, John Surman, Toots Thielemans, Charles Tolliver, Miroslav Vitous, Bobby Watson, Kenny Wheeler, Fode Youla ("Africa Djole"), etc...
He made tours all over in Europe (including Estonia and Russia) and in Cameroun, Canada, Israel, Japan, Tunisia and USA. He composed about 120 tunes, 70 of which recorded.
Franco D'Andrea won various prizes: the "Italian Critics' Award" in 1979 and in 1981; the "Radiouno Jazz Prize" in 1982; the "Top Jazz Award", launched by Musica Jazz magazine, as best Italian musician in 1982, '84, '85, '86, '87; the "Top Jazz Award", for best Italian record in 1984 and in 1986, with No Idea of Time and Quartet Live; the "Top Jazz Award" for best Italian group in 1986.
He's been teaching since 1978. His main collaborations have been with:
- Seminari Senesi di Musica Jazz (Siena, Italy) since 1978, (jazz piano, workshops)
- Libera Scuola di Musica ( Vicenza, Italy), in the early 80s (jazz piano)
- Centro Didattico Musicale (Milano, Italy), since 1983 to 1986 (jazz piano)
- Centro Professione Musica (Milano, Italy), since 1986 (jazz piano and workshops)
- Thelma Yellin High School of Arts (Tel Aviv, Israel), (Master Class)
- AMR (Geneva, Switzerland), (Technique of Improvisation Stage)
He's been teaching jazz at the Conservatory of Trento (Italy) since 1993.
He's been a member of the Board of Examiners at the Klubschule Migros' Jazz Department (St. Gallen, Switzerland), since 1990. He's been a member of the Jury at the "Concours International de Piano Jazz Martial Solal" (Paris, France), in 1989.
Franco D'Andrea recorded about 80 records, in Italy and abroad.

FRANCO D'ANDREA - DISCOGRAPHY

Modern Art Trio - Modern Art Trio (Vedette)

5 records with Perigeo, among which: Genealogia (RCA)

Franco D'Andrea Trio - From East to West (Atlantic)

Claudio Fasoli, Franco D'Andrea - Jazz Duo (Dire)

Franco D'Andrea - Nuvolao (Carosello)

Franco D'Andrea - Dialogues with Superego (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea - "Es" (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea Quartet - Made in Italy (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea with Barry Altschul and Mark Elias - My One and Only Love (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea with Barry Altschul, Mark Elias and Tino Tracanna - No Idea of Time (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea Quartet - Quartet Live (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea Quartet - My Shuffle (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea, Giovanni Tommaso, Roberto Gatto - Kick off (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea, Hein van de Geyn, Aldo Romano - Volte (OWL Records)

David Liebman, Franco D'Andrea - Nine Again (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea, Luis Agudo - Enrosadira (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea, Stephan Schertler, Bill Elgart - Franco D'Andrea Trio (YVP)

Quatre - Quatre (Gala Records)

Quatre - Earthcake (Label Bleu)

Hervé Bourde, Franco D'Andrea - Paris-Milano (In Situ)

Lee Konitz, Franco D'Andrea - 12 Gershwin in 12 keys (Philology)

Franco D'Andrea, Giovanni Tommaso, Roberto Gatto - Airegi (Red Records)

Franco D'Andrea Septet - Flavours (Pentaflowers)

D'Andrea, Naco, Boato - Current Changes (Pentaflowers)

Franco D'Andrea - Live in Perugia (Pentaflowers)

FRANCO D'ANDREA - BOOKS

26 Compositions - Ed. Crepuscule, Milano 1982

Enciclopedia Comparata delle Scale e degli Accordi (co-author Attilio Zanchi),
in the educational collection of Centro Professione Musica - Ed. Carish, Milano 1992