The Grammy-winning trio Time for Three will share their diverse repertoire when they perform at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The performance is part of the Music Institute of Chicago’s performing series.
“Time for Three is one of the most vibrant, dynamic, exciting young ensembles on the scene right now,” praised Mark George, President and CEO of the Music Institute of Chicago. “They are unique. These musicians are trained at the highest level, at the Curtis Institute and Juilliard. They have classical technique and they apply that to classical music, pop music, jazz, rock and roll—everything.”
George said that this performance, which he calls “a celebratory event,” fits the Music Institute’s education mission.
“It’s a chance for our students and anybody who wants to be a student to come and see what you can do, what you can aspire to, when you study music,” George explained.
The members of the trio are Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), Charles Yang (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals).
“There’s going to be a set of a bunch of original music that we’ve written, a lot of songs,” Meyer said. “We’re going to play some original instrumentals that is within the Time for Three canon. And then you’re also going to hear some beautiful arrangements.”
Meyer said he particularly enjoys performing the song “This Life,” which Yang introduced to the trio. It was commissioned from Ground Zero.
“It’s all about life’s journey. It’s this very rich colorful sound,” Meyer said. “If you haven’t heard Time for Three you may be surprised by what two violins, bass and vocals can do.”
Time for Three officially began in 2001 “when we started receiving money for the shows that we did,” Kendall said. “Back then we were really just a group of three young men who were doing it as a side project. We came together by accident by a common interest in improvisation and jamming after our intensive rehearsals playing the great music of Beethoven and Brahms at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.”
All three musicians pursued solo careers but Time for Three “kept growing momentum,” Kendall reported. Nine years ago, one of the original members left and Yang joined the trio.
With that addition Time for Three became a fulltime band and took on a new direction, Kendall said.
“I feel we make a good combination because we’re cut from the classical cloth but we’re all likeminded in our curiosity for bringing styles of music together from different genres,” Meyer said.
“We’re lucky to be a group that can play so many different kinds of shows,” Yang said.
That includes playing concertos that were written for them with symphony orchestras. In 2022, they premiered “Contact” by Kevin Puts, which was written for Time for Three, with the San Francisco Symphony.
“We’re touring that all over the world,” Yang said.
Yang added that they also get to play solo concerts like the one they will be performing at Nichols. They have also played at Carnegie Hall and at prestigious European festivals.
“We absolutely love all of it,” Yang said.
The group’s talents are being recognized with two Grammy wins in 2023, one for the album “Letters for the Future” that they recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra of two original concertos.
Being part of Time for Three “is an incredible way to inspire people through music,” Meyer said, although he admitted that it’s hard to spend so much time away from his family.
“We honestly, legitimately love playing together on a stage,” Yang declared. “And it really resonates with the audience.”
Kendall, who is married and has a 3-year-old, said, “With all of the beautiful things I have in my life, when I’m playing onstage with Charles and Ranaan I can see myself in a way that I can’t see myself in every other facet in my life. The road is tough but playing a show with each other is like hooking ourselves up to a plug socket. There’s so much electricity, love and focus.”
Tickets are $30-$60 and can be purchased by calling 847-448-8326 or visiting nicholsconcerthall.org.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
