power trio
A rock band format consisting of guitar, bass, and drums, with the guitarist also singing.
In Depth
The power trio strips rock to its essentials: one instrument per frequency range, with no harmonic padding. This format demands exceptional musicianship because there is nowhere to hide. The guitarist must simultaneously provide rhythm, melody, and harmony. Cream, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Rush, and ZZ Top are iconic power trios. The format's raw energy and improvisational freedom made it popular in blues-rock, hard rock, and progressive rock.
Cream was the first major power trio, and their live improvisations could stretch songs from three minutes to twenty, pioneering the extended jam format in rock.