“Like Someone in Love” was composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke for the 1944 film Belle of the Yukon. It became a jazz favorite through recordings by John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Art Blakey and Ella Fitzgerald, among many others.
The form is a 32-bar ABAC, usually in C major. It opens with a descending line through the I chord and its relatives, then moves through ii-V progressions to nearby keys. The harmony flows smoothly with a gentle, romantic quality, and it works as a ballad or a medium swing tune.
For improvisation, focus on the ii-Vs and connect them with guide tones. Over the opening, highlight the descending bass line. Coltrane’s version on Lush Life is lyrical and thoughtful, while Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers version swings harder.
Practice the melody and changes at a medium tempo. Learn it in C and in Eb, since both are used.
Section by section: the opening bars follow a descending bass line, so highlight the moving notes in your phrases. The middle section moves through ii-V progressions; use guide tones. The final section brings a turnaround back to C. Coltrane’s version is lyrical and thoughtful, a great model for medium ballad tempo.
Practice tip: learn the tune in C and Eb, since both keys are common at jam sessions.
Memorizing the Like Someone in Love Lead Sheet PDF: learn the form in sections, not all at once. Play the first eight bars until you can do them with your eyes closed, then add the next section. Within a week or two you won’t need the page at all, which is the real goal of any lead sheet.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Coltrane’s Lush Life, Bill Evans’s trio versions and Ella Fitzgerald’s vocal. Learn more about the composer on Jimmy Van Heusen’s Wikipedia page, and find more standards on Minedit.