Andrea Marchesini (Alassio, SV, august 5 - 1960) has nourished his passion for music in Italy from 1974 to the early 80s listening to great records (LPs!), playing with local musicians, and growing as a self-tought drummer.
After a short time spent at Piccolo Conservatorio Nuova Milano Musica (1983, with drummer Paolo Pellegatti), and been pushed by great drummers Andrew Cirylle and Tommy Campbell (who stopped at his hometown for a Jazz Festival) and having red so much about the "New York" Scene on "Modern Drummer" magazine, Andrea decides to leave for the States (1984) and be a (tiny) part of "the scene".

In 4 intense years he gets a lot of work done: studies part time at Drummer's Collective with Kenwood Dennard (Sting, Brand X, Manhattan Transfer, Jaco Pastorius), Kim Plainfield (Jean Luc Ponty, Tania Maria, Pointer Sisters), Robbie Gonzales (Al Di Meola, Dave Valentin), Frankie Malabe (Word of Mouth Big Band, Bob Mintzer), Steve Gadd (no need for "names"...), plays in many different styles and settings and works with dozens of bands in rock dives (CBGB's, Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways, The Dive, Kamikaze, The World; with Grey Zone, Quinn & The Eskimos with Even Steven, Round Trip, Gennaro, S’go), jazz clubs (Mikell's, Village Gate, Visiones, 55 Bar, Under Acme; with Microburst, Chris Joannou Quartet), theaters (La Mama, Limbo Lounge, Lincoln Center Arena, Inroads; with Steven Antonelli e Perkin Barnes), radio (WKCR-FM) and TV shows.
He goes on a european tour (London and Paris) with Red House, an Off-Off Broadway theater piece by John Jesurun (with Steve Buscemi as the main actor); works on demos, jingles, records, in many different recording studios (Sorcerer, New Breed, Noise NY, Big Apple, Secret Sound, Lion’s Den, Tom Anthony’s Music House).

Many of his hopes are thrown into the pop-rock group Robert Secret, but after a few record-deal misses he plays his jazz-fusion card: Andrea leads Minus One and plays his original compositions in New Jersey, Massachussets, Pennsylvania, and NY State clubs.

In '88 the project ends on tape: Back To Europe (Album: Teldeck-Day Eight Music 1989; CD Nowo-New Sound Planet 1990) is released worldwide, with the partecipation of Hiram Bullock, Jonas Hellborg, Mike Stern, Gerardo Velez (Spyro Gyra), and the great sounds of his long-time friends.

Record company problems and personal matters led him to a long pause, after having given a try to Germany (a rock EP with All Tigers Bite) and once again New York in 1990 (latin-fusion concerts with Matt Balitsaris's and Billy Martin's Loose Shoes; vocals sessions on a new age with Mino Cinelu; a second "solo" project).

Seven years (!) of silence end up with a phone call by italian local cover band Groove Machine (may ’97): he remains with'em until late '98, playing more than 60 high-energy gigs (often to a click track and doing lots of vocals work) and also backing Luca e Paolo, two major italian comedians.

In '99 Andrea starts Ben’s Pizza, acid funk & fusion quartet with Enrico Pinna (guitar), Gianni Serino (bass), and Luca Giuffrida (percussion), and collaborates with guitar-wizard Alessio Menconi (Paolo Conte band) of Genova.