Franz Bauer was educated at two schools (Munich College of Music, classical, and the Berlin University of the Arts, jazz). Like the projects he did while at school, he continues to cross over to new areas by regularly taking part in the most diverse projects and also inaugurating them.
He plays in a variety of groups, from percussion and contemporary music ensembles in Munich, Berlin and Rostock that aim to premiere new works in contemporary music [Quadram Ensemble – concerts in Berlin; Percussion Project Rostock – concerts in Germany and abroad; United Berlin – international concerts] to the improvising marimba-vibraphone duo which, coming from jazz, is strongly influenced by African rhythms. From the jazz quintet [Franz Bauer Quintet: "Plüschtier, " JazzHausMusik, 1997, with Jim Black], a group whose tours were in part supported by the Goethe Institute, to bands like Batoru [3 CDs on the Nabel label] which take him to international festivals.