The Power of 3, featuring Orianthi, Cindy Blackman Santana and Rhonda Smith, have released new single ‘Taxi’, built around a previously unreleased guitar riff from Jimi Hendrix.
The track is taken from the trio’s self-titled debut album, due on 29 January 2027 through She2Music. Produced by Eddie Kramer and recorded entirely in analogue, the album brings together three musicians whose careers have included work with Michael Jackson, Prince, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Beyoncé, Lenny Kravitz, Santana and Pharoah Sanders.
‘Taxi’ follows debut double single ‘War In The Streets’ / ‘Treat Me Like A Lady’ and gives the clearest indication yet of how The Power of 3 are approaching their debut record, combining heavy rock, blues and improvisation with the chemistry of a classic power trio.
From the Hendrix vault
The origins of ‘Taxi’ lie in Orianthi and Eddie Kramer’s longstanding relationship with the Hendrix estate. While exploring the Hendrix archives, Orianthi came across a previously unreleased riff which immediately sparked an idea for a new song.
Rather than simply using the original recording, Orianthi recreated the riff herself before bringing the idea to Blackman Santana and Smith. The trio then built an entirely new track around it, using the Hendrix fragment as a jumping-off point rather than treating it as a historical artefact.
“Getting to hear something from Jimi that the world hasn’t heard before was pretty incredible,” says Orianthi. “The moment I heard that riff, I knew there was something special there and immediately started imagining what we could do with it.”
She adds: “There’s something really powerful about the three of us creating something new around a piece of music from someone who has inspired us so much. It’s our way of honouring Jimi while making something that’s completely our own.”
A new power trio
The roots of The Power of 3 stretch back several years, when Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis encouraged Orianthi to put together a power trio inspired by Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys. Orianthi brought in Cindy Blackman Santana and Rhonda Smith, creating a line-up with a wealth of experience across rock, blues, jazz, funk and soul.
The trio have already performed together twice at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but the forthcoming album marks their first full studio statement.
With Orianthi on guitar and vocals, Blackman Santana on drums and Smith on bass, the group draws heavily on the tradition of the power trio while bringing together three very different musical backgrounds.
Eddie Kramer behind the desk
The self-titled debut was produced by Eddie Kramer, whose career is closely associated with Hendrix and includes work with David Bowie, KISS and The Rolling Stones.
Recorded entirely in analogue, the album is intended to capture the raw interaction between the three musicians rather than relying heavily on studio construction. Carlos Santana also appears as a special guest on the record.
That live chemistry is central to the project. Blackman Santana brings decades of experience spanning jazz, rock and improvisation, while Smith’s career has taken her from Prince to Jeff Beck and Beyoncé. Orianthi sits at the centre with a style that moves freely between rock, blues and pop.
Three distinctive careers
Orianthi first reached a wider audience through high-profile collaborations with artists including Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper and Carlos Santana before establishing a successful solo career. Her latest album Some Kind Of Feeling reached number one on the Official UK Blues Chart.
Cindy Blackman Santana has worked with artists including Lenny Kravitz, Carlos Santana, Pharoah Sanders, Ron Carter, Joe Henderson and John McLaughlin. She has been Santana’s full-time drummer since 2016 and released her own album Coherence in July 2026.
Rhonda Smith is best known for her long association with Prince and her work with Jeff Beck, while her career has also included collaborations with Beyoncé and Chaka Khan. Her combination of groove, technical skill and versatility has made her one of the most respected bassists of her generation.
Together, the three now turn that collective experience towards a project of their own.
‘Taxi’ is available now on all major streaming platforms, with an accompanying visualiser also online.
The Power of 3 will be released on 29 January 2027 through She2Music on CD, vinyl and digital formats.
