Recorded live at The Magic Carpet, Dayton, Ohio March , 1973.
Personnel:
Double Bass – Bill Conway
Percussion – Billy Jackson
Piano – Roy Meriwether
In 1973, a young Ohio pianist named Roy Meriwether prepared a trio that laid down some of the most compelling soulful Jazz ever recorded live to tape. Recorded live at “The Magic Carpet” in the heart of downtown Dayton, Ohio, Nubian Lady united the talented trio of Bill Conway (double bass), Billy Jackson (drums) and Roy Meriwether (piano). Released on tiny indie label Singer Productions, Nubian Lady never got the proper push it deserved, and remained a extremely rare (and expensive) treasure for decades. After being re-discovered by DJs and sample hunters, the album has taken on almost mythical status among collectors of jazz, soul, and funk.
Reflecting on the triad’s time together, Billy Jackson recalls knowing it was special. “We all got along real well, it was an adventure working with Roy, then we started to click. The more we played together, the better we played, we began to think alike, and had a very good group together”. These recordings are in a groove, it’s “live”, it’s that experience that you need to participate in. Meriwether summed it up best: “It doesn’t stop, it goes all the way through to the end, it doesn’t break up. Even the drum solo, and the bass solo, being as out as it is, it’s still in the realm of the rhythm!\"
