Inspired by an early love of post-Romantic and 20th-century music – with a particular focus on French impressionists and Russian composers – and later by Coltrane's harmony and the free forms of jazz, Nicola Andrioli ultimately found his musical inspiration in jazz.
He took programmes and masterclasses with Kevin Hays, Aaron Goldberg, Kenny Barron, George Cables, Barry Harris, Brian Dickinson, Russ Hoffmann, Ran Blake, Marc Levine, Franco D'Andrea, Enrico Pieranunzi, Stefano Battaglia, Diederik Wissels, Rick Margitza and Dave Liebman, among others.
As a performer, he has collaborated with Toots Thielemans, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joshua Redman, John Ruocco, Archie Shepp, Bert Joris, Rick Margitza, Richard Galliano and Dino Saluzzi.
Today, Nicola Andrioli is the pianist for Philip Catherine and is affiliated with Kurt Rosenwinkel's Heartcore Records label.