I'VE NEVER BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

Composed by Frank Loesser in 1950 for the musical "Guys and Dolls," "i've never been in love before" is a tender, intimate ballad expressing the novelty and vulnerability of first love. Its delicate melody and harmonic elegance have made it a standard for both stage and jazz interpretations.

The first recording was by Robert Alda in New York in 1950 for the original Broadway cast, demonstrating its heartfelt simplicity. Later interpretations by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and jazz ensembles expanded its reach into the vocal jazz repertoire.

The lyrics convey innocence and the wonder of new romance, while musically the song follows a 32-bar AABA form with harmonically rich chords, allowing performers expressive phrasing and improvisational flexibility.