Wade in the Water: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$5.00 USD

Wade in the Water: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Wade in the Water: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-JE4097S
Price: 5.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Ramsey Lewis / arr. Chris Sharp

Grade: 1

Item: 98-JE4097S

$5.00

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This accessible version of Ramsey Lewis's famous gospel classic has a rock flair and will showcase your sax section and pianist. The written piano solo is followed by a double-time section with a sax soli over optional background vocals provided by the brass section. Highly entertaining with plenty of audience appeal.

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Series: FJH Beginning Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444605370

SKU: 98-JE4097S

More about this title

About the Composer: Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Lewis built his reputation as a pianist and bandleader who moved fluidly between jazz, soul, and popular music. His 1966 recording of "Wade in the Water" became an iconic crossover hit, blending spiritual roots with contemporary grooves that appealed to both jazz purists and mainstream audiences.

Lewis's gift was his ability to make sophisticated harmony accessible without sacrificing musicality. His arrangements and compositions remain teaching tools in jazz education because they demonstrate how to honor tradition while staying relevant to players and listeners.

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Why we love this

Grade 1 ensembles rarely get to perform repertoire with this much personality and commercial appeal. The rock-inflected writing keeps the band engaged while remaining genuinely playable, and the feature moments for saxophone and piano give your strongest players something to sink their teeth into without overshadowing the ensemble. Audiences light up when they hear it, which matters just as much as what's on the page.

What to expect

Energetic and grooving, with the warmth of a spiritual underneath the contemporary rock-flavored tempo. There's a playfulness in the orchestration that invites the ensemble to have fun while respecting the integrity of the source material.

Who it's for

Beginning jazz ensembles that need accessible but credible repertoire with built-in entertainment value. This works equally well for groups still building fundamentals and those looking to expand beyond basic blues heads with more sophisticated arranging touches.

How to get the most out of it

Lock the rhythm section early. The groove won't breathe if the drums and bass aren't solid, so isolate that pocket before layering the horns.
Let the piano solo breathe dynamically. It's a written feature, not a transcription to mechanically reproduce, so encourage your pianist to voice dynamics and phrasing that build toward the double-time section.
Shape the sax soli with clear articulation and phrase direction. The background vocals from the brass need to sit as support, not competition, which means the saxophone line drives the conversation.
Treat the optional vocals as a textural choice, not an obligation. If your brass section isn't comfortable singing or the arrangement feels cluttered, omit them entirely without guilt.

How to use it

Program this as a winter or spring concert feature where you want to showcase your jazz band to a general audience. It bridges the gap between concert hall expectations and the infectious energy that makes people remember your group after the performance ends.