Toronto pianist, singer, composer and songwriter Rick Maltese has released “Simply Love,” a pop-jazz single that examines committed relationships without the pressure to follow traditional expectations around marriage and family life. The track appears on his album Rick Maltese & Friends Vol 2 and draws musical inspiration from Ray Charles as well as the work of Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle.
The song presents a straightforward argument: a relationship that is already loving and stable does not necessarily need to be changed simply because outside expectations encourage a couple to marry, have children or settle into a conventional family structure.
“Simply Love” Focuses on Commitment Without Social Pressure
At the centre of “Simply Love” is the relationship between two young people who already have a meaningful connection. Rather than portraying marriage as the inevitable next step, the song encourages younger couples to recognize what they have and avoid rushing into major life decisions because of pressure from family or society.
The chorus summarizes that message directly: “It’s simply love, you love me, plain simple love, I love you.”
Later, the male perspective reinforces the strength of the relationship with the line: “Without you my heart would break, together we are strong.”
The theme gives the song a conversational quality, framing love less as a milestone to be formalized and more as an existing bond that can have value on its own.
Ray Charles Influence Shapes the Song’s Jazz-Pop Sound
Musically, Maltese said the track was influenced by his admiration for Tom Waits’ soundtrack to the film One From the Heart and Waits’ recordings with Crystal Gayle.
Those influences helped shape a composition built around piano, bass and drums, but Maltese felt another instrumental voice was necessary to complete the arrangement.
“I had the grand piano, the bass, the drums, but no sultry solo that could make a Ray Charles style melody and accompaniment more authentic,” he says.
That role was filled by tenor saxophonist Alison Young.
“Alison Young’s playing fit the bill,” Maltese says.
Experienced Canadian Musicians Support the Recording
Young’s tenor sax replaces Bill McBirnie’s flute for this particular track, giving “Simply Love” a different instrumental character from other material associated with the project.
The recording also features bassist George Koller and drummer Ben Wittman, musicians with extensive professional backgrounds and an established history of performing together.
Koller is a National Jazz Award-winning Bassist of the Year, as well as a composer and producer whose credits span more than 1,600 albums and collaborations. His career includes work connected with artists ranging from Peter Gabriel to Canadian singer-songwriter Loreena McKennitt.
Wittman, meanwhile, developed his career in New York as a composer and producer. His recording credits include projects involving Sting, Paul Simon and Rosanne Cash.
Their familiarity contributes to the relaxed and conversational feel of “Simply Love,” allowing the arrangement to support Maltese’s central lyrical message without overwhelming it.
Rick Maltese Draws on Decades of Musical Experience
Maltese brings a broad musical background to the recording. His work as a pianist, arranger and music director has crossed classical music, jazz, blues, pop, world music and folk.
He has also served as a musical director and conductor in musical theatre and choir settings. Earlier in his career, Maltese held a musical role at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel, where he coached and accompanied the hotel’s singing waiters.
That range of professional experience continues to influence his songwriting and arranging, particularly his emphasis on melody.
Maltese Plans Classical Work ‘Cantata for Peace’
Beyond his current pop and jazz recordings, Maltese is expanding his compositional work into classical music. He is planning a project titled Cantata for Peace, drawing further on his interest in major melody-driven composers and his experience across multiple musical traditions.
“Simply Love,” however, remains deliberately direct in both its musical and lyrical approach.
The track’s message is aimed particularly at younger listeners navigating expectations surrounding relationships and adulthood. Instead of presenting marriage and family life as mandatory markers of a successful relationship, the song encourages couples to take their time and appreciate a bond that is already working.
With “Simply Love,” Maltese uses a restrained jazz-pop arrangement and experienced Toronto-area musicians to deliver one of his most direct statements about relationships: commitment can be meaningful without being accelerated by outside expectations.