Edword Pollard, aka Word, plays drums in many styles, including drum-n-bass, eastern european, avant jazz, jazz, funk and alternative rock. Initially self taught, he gradually moved to a more studied approach. At 18 he studied jazz drumming with Darryl Voss in San Luis Obispo, played in the jazz improv group at Cuesta College under Warren Balfoure, then went on to San Diego State University to study jazz, world music, classical music, and improvisation. He also studied drumming with Jim Plank and Duncan Moore, whose influences were mostly conceptual. While playing in jazz combos under Rick Helzer, studying percussion under Danlee Mitchell, and playing with multiple jazz groups around San Diego, he developed a broad vocabulary for music that he could then use as a starting point for his tangential delvings into hybrid and creative music.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Word had the opportunity to play with the funk/rock band Jyve, with the soulful acoustic singer/songwriter Jeff Pitcher, with the Mills College New Music Ensemble under Fred Frith, and with Roger Riedlbauer and Kristina Forrester in an original, eclectic trio known as Mosthumbz. He also played with Colin Stetson and Eric Perney in Defense, The Transmission Large Ensemble, Connector and as substitute drummer for the Transmission Trio. Following that, he played live drum-n-bass with the trio Apparatus. He has recorded on albums ranging in styles from jazz, funk, and avant garde, to moody alternative rock, R&B, Electronica, and Eastern European hybrid music (See discography below).
He played regularly around the Bay Area in uptempo odd times, and styles ranging from breakbeat to jazz, with Zoyres Eastern European Wild Ferment from 2005-2012, including Mike Perlmutter, Liam Staskawicz, Aaron Novik, Jonathan Russell, Olivier Hamant, and Joshua Sirotiak. They recorded three albums to date, and played wildly diverse shows with stellar reviews and reception, such as fermentation workshops, cancer benefits, clubs in the city, and busking at BART stations and farmer's markets.
More recently, Word reconnected with Roger Riedlbauer and Eric Perney in an original, eclectic music trio and recorded one EP that is yet unreleased.
Word also teaches drums and percussion in the East Bay Area in his home studio, remotely via Zoom, and at student's homes through his mobile drum company, Wordless Studios, as well as doing studio work and freelance gigs.