Wade in the Water is a Negro Spiritual. The song relates to both the old and new testaments and reflects the Israelites escape out of Egypt. There is a popular belief that Wade in the Water contained explicit instructions to fugitive slaves on how to avoid capture. Wade in the Water has inspired a wide range of artists and been covered by Bob Dylan, Ramsey Lewis, Herb Albert, Big Mama Thornton and Johnny Griffin. In this arrangement by Mark Bassey, Mark has been influenced by Norman Symmons fine arrangement for the Johnny Griffin orchestra and has been written to feature the multi-talented Jazz Trombonist and member of Superbrass, Andy Wood.
The main chorus goes as follows....
Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water.
God's gonna trouble the water.
Mark Bassey is a highly versatile composer and trombonist who can be heard in many different guises playing alongside Alan Barnes, Julian Arguelles, Nikki Iles and recently with Billy Jenkins and the BBC Big Band at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club. Mark has written numerous compositions and arrangements, many of which have been recorded and broadcast - over 30 big band charts and various commissions including work for the Associated Board. He has recorded widely – recently with Daphna Sadeh, Johannes Lemke, Clark Tracey. In 2007 he released Mark Bassey’s Telling Stories an album featuring his own highly programmatic writing. Mark has been involved with jazz education for over 25 years, teaching trombone and running classes in harmony, improvisation, composition and arranging at many colleges including the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music, and the Jamey Aebersold jazz summer school.
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