Born to immigrant parents in Wellington New Zealand, Edward was drawn to music from an early age; singing at the piano with his farther, in the choir at primary school and periodically studying the piano. Then at age 9 he began an intensive and continuous study of tap dancing, performing extensively until his mid-teens when this interest grew into a greater fascination with drums and percussion. At this age he also began to take an interest in various eastern influenced writers and thinkers, reading and absorbing many literary writings as well as canonical texts such as the Tao Te Ching, I-Ching and Chuang-tzu.

A period of academic study in Philosophy, English Literature, Sociology and Art History gave way to the need for travel and Ware left University to journey through Asia, the Middle East and Turkey. Drum set study continued in London for a couple of years until a return to New Zealand to complete a Bachelors Degree in Jazz and Classical Performance at the Wellington Conservatory of Music. After graduation Ware played extensively in Wellington’s music scene - from percussionist with the Regional Orchestra to jazz, funk, rock, R&B, studio (including commissions from Radio New Zealand to compose and record jazz and chamber works for broadcast) and film work.

In 1990 Ware moved to New York and became involved with the downtown scene, working with players as diverse as Jerome Harris, David Tronzo, Ben Monder, Marc Ribot, Chris Cochrane, Pete McCann, Peter Herbert, William Parker, Mark Helias, Dominic Duval, Ikue Mori, David Watson, Chris Kelsey, Joe McPhee, Kitty Brazelton, Joe Fiedler, Tony Malaby, Briggan Kraus, Anthony Coleman, Chris Anderson and Matthew Shipp among many others. He also worked with new music artists such as Jerome Kitzke, Elizabeth Panzer, Kathy Supove, Mike Lowenstern and Bruce Gremo.

In the mid '90's Ware was asked to be the drummer for the first live Internet broadcast from the Montreux Jazz Festival involving a real time interactive concert performance with British saxophonist Courtney Pine and ex Miles Davis percussionist Mino Cinelu, taking place in New York at the Knitting Factory. Then later (in 1997) he also became the first jazz musician/composer to be officially invited to teach and perform at the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China.

He has recorded for many independent labels including Knitting Factory Works, CRI and CIMP. His own independent release in 2001, 'Ed Ware's Tree' received critical acclaim including a four star review in the January 2001 issue of Down Beat magazine, with that trio being engaged by Carnegie Hall for two seasons on their neighborhood concert series. 

Aside from private study of species counterpoint, Schoenberg’s Theory of Harmony,  analysis and piano with Mr Paul Caputo, Ware also completed studies at  CUNY’s Brooklyn College (working with Professors Amnon Wollman, Ellie Hisama, Philip Rupprecht, George Brunner and Tania Leon) resulting in a Masters Degree in Composition.

He currently divides his time between Brazil and New York where he continues to compose, record, teach and perform.