BIO
Kyle Dorny is a professional drummer and band member based in Santa Barbara, California, performing and recording with artists across the greater Los Angeles music scene. Known for his musical versatility, Kyle blends his background in jazz, funk, rock, pop, indie, Latin, reggae, and alternative styles into a sound that is both refined and deeply expressive.
Influenced by drumming legends such as Dave Grohl, Larnell Lewis, Art Blakey, David Garibaldi, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Bonham, Jeff Porcaro, James “The Rev” Sullivan, and his mentor Gregg Bissonette, Kyle has developed a wide-ranging vocabulary that allows him to move effortlessly between intricate jazz phrasing and powerful rock or pop grooves.
Trained at Berklee College of Music and the University of North Texas’s renowned Jazz Drumset program, Kyle combines formal technique with the
creativity and musical instinct that come only from years of live performance. Under the mentorship of Grammy-winning drummer Gregg Bissonette, he continues to refine a style that balances precision, dynamics, and feel.
Kyle began performing professionally while in high school as the drummer for a jazz combo that won first place at the Reno Jazz Festival, an experience that sparked his early career leading jazz groups and playing throughout Santa Barbara. He later expanded into alternative and indie genres, performing with Always the Alibi, Henry Coke Band, and other regional acts across Texas and California.
Today, Kyle provides session and live performance drumming for Voracious Records and The 805 Studio, supporting artists including Nicole Sophia, Joveth, and McKenna Elliott. His performances have ranged from intimate venues to legendary stages like The Troubadour and The Mint in Los Angeles, where his musicality and adaptability consistently elevate the artists he supports.
When not performing, Kyle continues his passion for teaching, offering private drum and piano lessons online and in person. A strong advocate for Fair Trade Music, he believes that collaboration and fair compensation strengthen the entire music community.
MUSICIANS KYLE HAS WORKED WITH
Leo James Conroy
McKenna Elliott
Joveth
Nicole Sophia
Tower of Switches (Tenk Van Dool)
The Henry Coke Band
Always the Alibi
Eric Marienthal
Gregg Bissonette
“I've had the pleasure of seeing Kyle's drumming evolve into something truly special—his creativity, precision, and groove make him the perfect choice for any session or band. He has an ear for versatility across jazz, blues, indie, pop, alternative, hip-hop, and rock with a friendly, personable work ethic to match. If you're looking for dynamic, professional drum tracks, he’s the drummer to hire."
– Gregg Bissonette
ALL ABOUT KYLE- The Backstory
Growing up in Santa Barbara, California, Kyle Dorny didn’t just fall into music — he built it, piece by piece, sometimes literally. At nine, inspired by the beats of Dave Grohl and James Sullivan (The Rev) and guided by his older brother, an aspiring guitarist and bandleader, Kyle started drumming on what could politely be called a “makeshift kit”: a drum pad perched on a camera tripod, a lamp base for a hi-hat, and a block of Styrofoam for a kick. His parents, skeptical at first, finally recognized his relentless dedication when a real PDP kit with Sabian B8 cymbals arrived on his birthday - and from that moment, Kyle never looked back.
He began formal lessons with Barry Birmingham at Santa Barbara’s legendary Mike’s Drum Shop, which had shaped drummers like George Pendergast (Dishwalla), Randy Guss (Toad the Wet Sprocket), and Bucket Baker (Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs). Kyle also explored piano and saxophone, discovering that music is as much about melody and harmony as it is about rhythm. At Goleta Valley Junior High, under the guidance of John Douglas, he found jazz. The exhilarating mix of improvisation, freedom, and emotion continues to shape his approach across every style.
By age 14, Kyle had formed his first band, The Collective, assembling family and friends into an eight-piece jazz ensemble. Managing personalities, setlists, and the inevitable surprises of live performance, he gained an early clarity about band dynamics. Their standout moment came at the Goleta Lemon Festival, where Kyle felt the thrill of connecting with a live outdoor audience for the first time. That experience planted the bug for performance permanently.
High school at Dos Pueblos offered an extraordinary environment for a young jazz musician. With a jazz program thriving for over 50 years, students had access to Grammy winners, renowned instructors, and a vibrant music outreach network through UC Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Bowl. Under the direction of Les Rose, a Grammy-nominated educator and professional jazz musician from New York, Kyle quickly stood out for his groove and feel. Kyle became the drummer for the DPHS jazz combo by age 15, taking them to first place at the Reno Jazz Festival. Even more formative were the annual Dos Pueblos Jazz Festival headline evening concerts, where he performed on stage with Tom Scott, Gregg Bissonette, and Eric Marienthal. The Gregg Bissonette performance was unforgettable: a four-drummer Buddy Rich tribute, with Kyle and two other drummers taking improvised solos alongside Gregg — a whirlwind of energy, timing, and showmanship that few high schoolers ever experience. Small classroom jams with visiting Grammy artists, like John Clayton and Kamasi Washington, combined with these high-profile performances, gave Kyle a rare inside look at professional music at its highest level.
By 16, Kyle was performing professionally with The Rhythm Section at private events and local venues. A year later, he formed King Tyle and the Court. The band’s name came from an unforgettable encounter: during a school visit, renowned bassist John Clayton misheard Kyle’s name and quipped, “King Tyle runs the band — that’s why he sits on a throne!” The nickname stuck, and so did Kyle’s drive to lead. King Tyle went on to headline the Santa Barbara Jazz Festival Redux, solidifying his early reputation as a bandleader.
Backstage moments continued to shape him. Preparing for a festival, a fellow drummer introduced him to Snarky Puppy’s music — a revelation. “It sounded like more than one drummer at once,” Kyle recalls. Larnell Lewis became a major influence, expanding his drumming vocabulary and vision.
Kyle also honed his craft with Craig Thatcher at the Santa Barbara Drum Lab before attending Berklee College of Music’s summer program, studying under Alberto Netto and performing in ensembles led by Bain Smith and Bruce Gertz. He trained with Grammy-winning drummer Gregg Bissonette, who encouraged him to pursue the University of North Texas’s renowned jazz drumset program.
At UNT, Kyle studied with Quincy Davis, Jose Aponte, and Mark Ford, performing in lab bands, combos, the Denton Arts & Jazz Fest, and with the UNT jazz vocal ensemble for Sinne Eeg. Beyond technical skill, he explored how music connects people, incorporating social and psychological influences into an integrated studies degree — lessons that continue to guide his approach to session work, band collaboration, business negotiations, and fan engagement. During this time, he also performed with DFW groups like Always the Alibi and The Henry Cole Band, while continuing to teach drum and piano through Zera Music Company.
Returning to Santa Barbara, Kyle became a trusted collaborator for local artists, recording drum tracks from his home studio and supporting independent musicians through Voracious Records and The 805 Room. He has performed and recorded with Nicole Sophia, Joveth, McKenna Elliott, and Leo James Conroy, and expanded into pit orchestra drumming for musical theater.
Today, whether leading a live band, recording with artists, or mentoring students, Kyle carries the same passion that began with a Styrofoam kick drum in his living room. His story is one of rare opportunities, mentorship, and the understanding that music is as much about connecting with people as it is about hitting the right notes — and for fans who have seen him play, it’s clear: he’s just getting started.
