In the 1980s Bernard was a member of the Hieroglyphics Ensemble led by Peter Apfelbaum.

[1] 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.

[2][3] Palmetto released his debut solo album, Blue Plate Special, in 2008.

[1] Grammy Award nomination, If Four Was One, 1997[4] With T.J. Kirk With Peter Apfelbaum With Stanton Moore With Ben Sidran With Jai Uttal With others