Time for Three sounds like a high-stakes jam session between world-class orchestral players and a rowdy bluegrass band. The music is defined by the bright, singing resonance of two violins dancing over the woody, percussive thrum of a double bass. It carries the structural weight of classical music but breathes with the spontaneous, rhythmic life of American roots music. It is bright, agile, and relentlessly optimistic.
What makes them truly distinctive is their 'garage band' approach to the string trio. They don't just play notes; they attack them with a physicality rarely seen in chamber music. You'll hear the slap of the bass strings against the fingerboard and the gritty bite of the bow on the violin strings, creating a percussive drive that rivals a full drum kit. Their ability to pivot from a soaring cinematic melody to a syncopated pop groove is seamless and uniquely theirs.
Start with '3 Fervent Travelers' to hear them at their most adventurous and accessible. It perfectly captures their ability to bridge the gap between the concert hall and the festival stage. It is the ideal gateway for anyone who thinks classical music is too stiff or bluegrass is too simple, proving that three string players can create a world of sound that feels both timeless and modern.
Time for Three (Tf3) is a classically trained string trio that explores a variety of musical genres. The members of the group are Nicolas (Nick) Kendall (violin), Charles Yang (violin, guitar), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass). Because of their eclectic musical tastes, ranging from classical to bluegrass to rock to jazz to hip-hop, and their usual casual dress, even while performing at Carnegie Hall, the group refers to itself as a "classically trained garage band". The trio won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.
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