Will Bernard - guitar; Chris Lightcap - bass; Ches Smith - drums

Although Will may be known mostly in the worlds of Jazz and Jam bands with his associations with musicians like John Medeski, Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore and others, Pond Life is Will’s continuing project in which he explores his “Creative music” or “new Music” side. Will has long been writing more introspective music and in fact holds a music degree in the classical music from UC Berkeley during a time when he was immersed in 20th century composition and studied with the likes of Andrew Imbrie and Alloudin Mathieu. Pond Life has no set rules and contains free improvisation with through-composed pieces.

Although currently a New Yorker, guitarist Will Bernard's unique voice was formed fro the most part from the rich cultural roots of the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way he studied classical music, jazz, played in basements and coliseums, and absorbed the Bay Area Multi-Kultii, the New York downtown edge, and the loose funk of New Orleans. He has performed or recorded with Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, John Medeski, Dr Lonnie Smith, Ben Sidran, Peter Apfelbaum, Jai Uttal, Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Dr. John and a lot of other known and unknowns.

Will can be seen working in a chameleon-like way to fit into his current habitat. His 2007 CD "Party Hats" as well as his 1997 collaborative project T.J. Kirk's If Four Was One were both nominated for Grammys, and he is nominated yearly in Downbeat Magazine's Critics Poll for "Best Rising Star" Guitar Player. Will is a regular fixture at New Orleans Jazz fest, Jam Cruise and other similar events, and has toured extensively in the US and Europe.

Currently, Will performs with John Medeski's Mad Skillet, Peter Apfelbaum's Sparkler, Frequinox with Stanton Moore and Robert Walter, Club D’Elf, Brian Charette's Mighty Grinders, Club Foot Orchestra, TJ Kirk spinoff Damn Skippy and the Will Bernard ’s Freelance Subversives and Pond Life. Will’s 11th record as a leader was released in 2022 on Dreck to Disk records and was on many best of 2022 lists. In 2023 Will released a duo record with SF clarinetist Beth Custer.