James Booker’s “Please Send Me Someone…”
In this lesson we explore the voicings and arrangement of the tune “Please Send Me Someone To Love” in the style of New Orleans piano legend James Booker.
“Please Send Me Someone To Love” follows a 32 bar AABA form. James Booker played this tune in a slow stride style with left hand embellishments.
Stride & Chromatic Walk-ups
A characteristic elements of James Booker’s left hand is a stride style with chromatic walk-ups to either the 3rd or the 7th of the chord. The left hand chromaticism creates interest and movement in the left hand.
Passing & Approach Chords
As demonstrated in the lesson James Booker embellishes the harmony with passing chords in between the core chord changes. These passing chords are most often chromatic approach chords, for example, E7 as a passing chord into F, the IV chord of the tune.
Related Lessons
When we play 10th intervals in our left hand it creates a strong foundation which frees up the right hand for melodic decoration.
“True” is a tune composed by Paul Gayton. We break down the famous rendition played by the James Booker at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
In this lesson we broaden the harmony of the 145 progression by introducing alternate chord changes, reharms, and passing chords.
Practice Tips
-
Practice hands separately to build strength and dexterity for the left hand chromaticism, 10th intervals, and passing chords.
-
Transpose the I to VI chord fill into a few different keys. Start with the keys F and G.
-
Learn both turnaround/ending variations and apply these to other tunes that you are working on.
