Giovanni Nardi was born in Tuscany (Italy). 

He began studying music at the age of nine with his grandfather; he received a Performance Diploma in “Saxophone” from the Florence Conservatory where he studied mainly with Claudio Lugo and Massimo Mazzoni. 

He studied “Electronic Music” under Albert Mayr and Lelio Camilleri at the Florence Conservatory.
To enhance his performance, he studied for several years with extraordinary soloists such as the great American saxophonist Eugene Rousseau at the “Mozarteum” in Salzburg and other contexts, and he broadened his range studying new repertories and early music with David Bellugi, under whom he obtained a Performance Diploma in “Recorder” from the Florence Conservatory. 

Still at the Florence Conservatory he obtained a Diploma in “Teaching Music” (Specialization in Saxophone). 

Giving rein to his passion for films, he attended the course in “Music for the Cinematographic Image” taugh by Ennio Morricone at Crsdm in Fiesole.

Ever since the beginning of his career he looked for a new style and sound in saxophone, deeply rooted in the instrument’s classical matrix able to interact with classical instruments and performers, as well as with the world of musical improvisation and electronic music. With interests that go beyond the standard repertoires, he entered the small circle of musicians able to interpret classic pieces, the most daring contemporary compositions, electronic compositions and improvised pieces with the same virtuosity and coherent and effective musicality. The conception of his programs always reveals a genuinely original approach.

His cultural interests, such as his love of film, painting and literature, assist his constant efforts to enliven the potential of his instrument. 

He has performed as a soloist in purely classical events, at prestigious academic institutions, at contemporary music festivals and events dedicated to new music and improvisation (Ravenna Festival; Staatsoper Stuttgart; Mozarteum Salzburg; Hochschule Wien; Hochschule Cologne; Alte Schmiede Wien; Nuova Consonanza, Festival Angelica, Tempo Reale Festival, Fabbrica Europa, Musicus Concentus, Biennale des Arts in Marseilles, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Chigiana International Festival and Summer Academy and many others) along with World Saxophone Congresses and special events in Italy dedicated to the saxophone.
He has worked with the Italian state broadcasting system, RAI. He participated in events like Radio Tre Suite with an interview/concert, represented Italy at the EBU Art’ s Birthday with a solo performance broadcast live throughout Europe, and gave a recital at the Palazzo del Quirinale (official residence of the President of Italy) which was also broadcast live throughout Europe and then re-aired by several European networks as well as RAI 3 and wire-broadcasts.

He has worked with composers such as Francesco Giomi, Marino Baratello, Alessandro Solbiati, Mauro Graziani, Agostino Di Scipio, Andrea Mannucci, Patrizio Barontini, Annamaria Federici, Arduino Gottardo, Lorenzo Brusci, Pietro Grossi, Lorenzo Donati creating soloist pieces for saxophone which he then presented in première performances. 

He has worked with Jindrich Feld, Arvo Part and Sofia Gubaidulina transcribing their music for saxophone and then premiered these compositions as well.

He has done significant work in promoting new repertoires for saxophone, performing italian premiere of saxophone soloist and duo pieces by composers such as Edison Denisov, Michael Nyman, François-Bernard Mache, Costin Miereanu, Jonty Harrison, Michele Tadini, Bernhard Heiden and Gavin Bryars.

Since 1997 he has been performing steadily as soloist with the Centro “TEMPO REALE” of Florence founded by Luciano Berio; with Tempo Reale he has worked on many new productions as well as compositions by great authors, such as Karlheinz Stockhausen’s original version of  “Solo” with one soloist and four performers at live electronics, performed at the RAI, and an impressive version of Stockhausen’s Spiral for a soloist and short-wave radio, made with a special interactive interface simulating the short-wave device, in cooperation with the Festival Fabbrica Europa of Florence and the Stockhausen-Stiftung für Musik (Stockhausen Foundation for Music).

In the fields of composition/improvisation, he has done intensive research on common aspects with and in improvisation without any barriers or limitations in terms of repertoire. He draws his inspiration equally from Stockhausen’s intuitive music, from music by Luciano Berio and Ennio Morricone, from the jazz musicians John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Anthony Braxton, Yan Garbarek and Ornette Coleman, as well as improvising in early music. His arrangements and compositions have been played in Paris Salle Cortot, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, RAI, NDR etc.

He has worked with composers and improvisers in strictly musical contexts as well as in the worlds of theater, dance and multimedia productions.
He holds master classes on saxophone and creative improvisation/intuitive music. He has made several recordings and his pupils have won awards in domestic and international competitions.