In the summer of 2008, I started an arranging project that combined Frank Zappa's guitar solos with the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra into a very long piece of music. At the same time, I was writing original pieces to accompany the work above. As the process continued, I re-focused my time on my original works than the Zappa / Mahavishnu project (yet to be completed). The compositions were fun, playful, heavy, and fresh.
Earlier that year, I found a transcription of Frank Zappa's The Black Page originally from a German drum magazine on a forum online. This was the hardest thing to play on the drums and I had been wanting to learn it for some time. Due to its extreme complexity, I would never be able to transcribe it (I was lucky to find it online). I decided to compose a new song based on The Black Page drum set composition to accompany my original works.
These works confused and mildly annoyed some very talented and knowledgeable musicians who served as the players. Once given this review, I knew I was on the right track.
Glass Ghost is the result of several favors and several courageous musicians who helped me on my adventure. I would say I achieved my goal with the release of Glass Ghost; to write music I don't hear others doing and to challenge my skills as a drummer and composer.
credits
released February 17, 2011
Kyle Dolan - Composer, Arranger, Drums
Kevin Antreassian - Guitars
Steve Quam - Bass
Kevin Dolan - Piano
Ole Mathisen - Soprano Saxophone
Jon Jetter - Sequencing
Andisheh Bassiri - Mixing and Mastering
Cover Photo taken by Emory Marshall
A work of beautiful, pointillist guitar from Martyn Heyne, the moving songs on “Electric Intervals” are made of tiny pinpricks of sound. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 11, 2017