A rhythm forged between Barcelona and New York.
Gerard Pola is a jazz drummer, composer and educator from Barcelona, Spain — a musician whose vocabulary bridges the depth of the jazz tradition with a contemporary, cross-continental voice.
He earned his bachelor's degree in Jazz Drums in Barcelona before relocating to New York City, where he recently graduated from his master's at the Manhattan School of Music. There, he studied with John Riley, Kendrick Scott, and Obed Calvaire, deepening his connection to the tradition while developing a versatile personal approach.
Gerard has performed extensively in Spain at major festivals including the Terrassa Jazz Festival and Primavera Sound, as well as renowned venues such as Jamboree Jazz Club and Sunset Jazz Club. Since moving to New York, he has performed at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center with the John Benítez Latin Big Band and has appeared throughout the city in a variety of settings — from small ensembles to large groups.
Most recently, he was selected to attend the prestigious Jazz Aspen Big Band Program, directed by Christian McBride.
Highlights
Career notes.
A selection of studies, stages and mentors that have shaped Gerard's musical voice — from the clubs of Barcelona to the concert halls of New York.
- 2025Jazz Aspen Big Band ProgramDirected by Christian McBride
- 2024Master's in Jazz PerformanceManhattan School of Music, NYC
- —Dizzy's Club · Jazz at Lincoln CenterJohn Benítez Latin Big Band
- —Terrassa Jazz Festival · Primavera SoundFeatured performances, Spain
- —Jamboree Jazz Club · Sunset Jazz ClubBarcelona residency & appearances
- —Bachelor's in Jazz DrumsBarcelona, Spain
Media
Featured recordings & performances.
In Studio · 2026
Debut
Album
Coming soon
Upcoming Release
A debut project, currently in the making.
Gerard is finishing his first record as a leader — an evolving body of original compositions distilled from years spent between the Barcelona and New York scenes. Follow along on streaming as new material is released.
Featured Performance
Watch live.
Gallery
In frame.
On Stage
Upcoming performances.
Dates for the upcoming season are being confirmed. Reach out directly for the latest calendar or to inquire about booking a performance.
New dates are being announced soon —
stay tuned or get in touch.
Study
Private lessons.
Gerard offers one-on-one instruction for drummers at every level, in person in New York and remotely worldwide. Lessons are shaped around the student — technique, groove, jazz vocabulary, comping, reading, and the deeper question of how to sound like yourself.
Studying with Gerard changed the way I hear the drums. He has a rare gift for breaking down complex vocabulary while always bringing you back to the sound, the feel, and the story you want to tell.
Press
In their words.
Reviews and features will be collected here as the debut album and upcoming performances are released to the public.
"A press quote about Gerard's playing will appear here — reserved for reviews of the upcoming album and future performances."
Publication · TBA
"Space is held for critical writing and interviews as they are published — a place to gather the words that follow the music."
Publication · TBA
"Additional press coverage and features will be curated here from festivals, venues, and music journals."
Publication · TBA
Contact