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Will Bernard

b. 1949

American musician

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About Will Bernard

Born 1949. Will Bernard is an American jazz musician and jazz guitarist.

Will Bernard is a guitarist and band leader. He has led the Will Bernard Band, Will Bernard Trio, Will Bernard 4-tet, and Motherbug.

Career In the 1980s Bernard was a member of the Hieroglyphics Ensemble led by Peter Apfelbaum. In the 1990s he formed the band T. J. Kirk in San Francisco with Charlie Hunter and John Schott. The band's name "James T. Kirk" was taken from James Brown, Thelonious Monk, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Palmetto released his debut solo album, Blue Plate Special, in 2008.

Discography As leader Medicine Hat (Antilles, 1998) Motherbug (Dreck to Disk, 2000) Directions to My House (Dreck to Disk, 2005) Party Hats (Palmetto, 2007) Blue Plate Special (Palmetto, 2008) Night for Day (Bju, 2008) Outdoor Living (Dreck to Disk, 2012) Just Like Downtown (Posi-Tone, 2013) Out and About (Posi-Tone, 2016) Freelance Subversives (Ropeadope, 2020) Ancient Grains (Posi-Tone, 2021) Pond Life (Posi-Tone, 2022)

With T.J. Kirk T.J. Kirk (Warner Bros., 1995) If Four Was One (Warner Bros., 1996) Talking Only Makes It Worse (Ropeadope, 2003)

As sideman With Peter Apfelbaum Signs of Life ([Antilles, 1991) Jodoji Brightness (Antilles, 1992) Luminous Charms (Gramavision, 1996) It Is Written (ACT, 2005)

With Stanton Moore III (Telarc, 2006) Emphasis! (On Parenthesis) (Telarc, 2008) Groove Alchemy (Telarc, 2010)

With Ben Sidran Don't Cry For No Hipster (Nardis, 2012) Picture Him Happy (Nardis, 2017)

With Jai Uttal Beggars and Saints (Triloka, 1994) Shiva Station (Triloka, 1997)

With others Steven Bernstein, Diaspora Suite (Tzadik, 2008) Anthony Brown, Rhapsodies (Water Baby, 2005) Don Cherry, Multikulti (A&M, 1990) Spearhead, Home (Capitol, 1994) Trance Mission, Trance Mission (City of Tribes, 1993) Tom Waits, Bad as Me (Anti-, 2011) Robert Walter, Giving Up the Ghost (Magna Carta, 2003)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality

People in Will Bernard's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Will Bernard's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Will Bernard?

American musician

When was Will Bernard born?

Will Bernard was born on 31 December 1949.

What is Will Bernard's occupation?

Will Bernard is a jazz musician and jazz guitarist.

What nationality is Will Bernard?

Will Bernard is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Will Bernard

· Wikidata: Q4085055

· DBpedia: Will Bernard

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Will Bernard. https://biography.guide/will-bernard/

MLA: "Will Bernard." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/will-bernard/.

Chicago: "Will Bernard." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/will-bernard/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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