Born in Jesi in 1986, Andrea Molinari is an Italian guitarist, composer, and arranger, regarded as one of the most compelling voices of his generation. From an early age, he showed a deep passion for music, which led him to move to Rome to pursue his studies. He graduated with honors from the Università della Musica and later from the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory, further refining his skills at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
His international experience includes two extended stays in New York, where he had the opportunity to engage with some of the most influential figures on the American jazz scene, such as Peter Bernstein, Charles Altura, Mike Moreno, Lage Lund, Jonathan Kreisberg, Seamus Blake, and Joel Frahm. He also took part in masterclasses with jazz legends like Benny Golson and Pat Martino.
In 2010, he was awarded the prestigious "Jimmy Woode" prize for Best Guitarist, presented by an exceptional jury composed of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Rick Margitza, Antonio Sanchez, Eddie Gomez, Dado Moroni, and Gegè Telesforo.
In 2018, he was selected as the winner of the national competition for an Italian-French residency, promoted by the French Institute in Italy, the French Embassy in Italy, MIDJ (Italian Jazz Musicians), and SIAE. The residency took place at the Casa del Jazz in Rome during the Una Striscia di Terra Feconda festival and included a collaborative project with renowned French musician Médéric Collignon, culminating in a concert broadcast on Radio3 Suite.
He has performed at leading jazz festivals, theaters, and clubs across Europe, Asia, and the United States, collaborating with internationally renowned musicians both in the studio and on stage. He has also appeared on television and radio programs and contributed to film productions and soundtracks.
His debut album, L’era dell’Acquario feat. Logan Richardson, received widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics. In 2019, he released his second album, 51, with the prestigious American label Ropeadope Records—renowned for producing innovative artists like Terrace Martin, Christian Scott, Snarky Puppy, and Aaron Parks. 51 was selected by Musica Jazz magazine as one of the “Albums of the Month” and included among the “Greatest Jazz Albums” at the Jazzit Awards. The album earned enthusiastic reviews from major publications such as All About Jazz, Amadeus, Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica, and many others. Tracks from the album were broadcast on numerous stations, including Radio3 Rai, SoundCheck Radio 24, and several international outlets. Three tracks—“13.13,” “Groovy Dentist,” and “Butterfly Eaters”—were also submitted for consideration at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
Andrea was a featured guest on the Radio3 Rai program Piazza Verdi, where he gave an interview and performed live with his quintet.
His latest album, Awakening | Il tutto nel nulla — his second for Ropeadope Records— came out on September 12, 2025, and features Dutch alto saxophonist Ben van Gelder.
In its September issue, Musica Jazz magazine featured an in-depth interview and review by journalist and author Nicola Gaeta, highlighting Molinari's artistic journey, his musical vision, and the evolution of his sound.
After four years of teaching at the "Tito Schipa" Conservatory of Music in Lecce, in March 2024 he won the first public competition in Italy for a jazz guitar professorship (by examination and merit), securing his current position at the "Gaetano Braga" Conservatory of Music in Teramo.
