Jonathan Moritz Trio - Love You to Death (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Jonathan Moritz is a saxophonist and composer whose trio Secret Tempo returns with Love You to Death, their second album marking over two decades of collaboration between Moritz (tenor saxophone), Shayna Dulberger (double bass), and Mike Pride (drums). Rooted deeply in jazz tradition yet boldly exploratory, the trio continues its profound investigation into spontaneous interplay, emotional expression, and the delicate balance between composition and improvisation.

Moritz’s playing on this album is solely on tenor saxophone—a shift from their debut where he played equal parts soprano—allowing him to delve fully into the instrument’s expansive sonic possibilities. From rich multiphonics and overtones to intimate whispers and fiery bursts, his phrasing is sculptural: at times lyrical and smooth, at others jagged and searching. Critics have lauded his sound as innovative and nuanced, placing him alongside experimental giants like John Butcher and Joe Maneri. As noted by critic Ben Ratliff (The New York Times), Moritz’s music “often sounds off the cuff when it’s actually planned, and the plans are mostly counterintuitive.” This tension between form and freedom permeates every moment of Love You to Death.

The album’s compositions begin with structure but quickly unravel, opening into improvisational landscapes that push the boundaries of melody, rhythm, and abstraction. The trio operates democratically, eschewing traditional roles of soloist and rhythm section to engage in real-time, deep listening and collective exploration. Their sound ranges from swinging grooves to ethereal textures, reflecting their diverse musical backgrounds spanning jazz, punk, contemporary classical, and metal. This broad palette imbues their music with a fresh energy and openness rarely heard in traditional jazz trios.

Drawing inspiration from jazz luminaries like Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Sidney Bechet, and Coleman Hawkins, Moritz traces a lineage from early jazz’s emotive expressiveness to today’s free improvisation. Yet Secret Tempo is no nostalgia act—the band pushes tradition forward, merging composition and improvisation, melody and abstraction, control and wild energy. Their first album balanced composed tunes with improvisation; Love You to Death embraces a freer, more open-ended approach, with the trio delving into longer, exploratory pieces that maintain an undercurrent of blues and swing.

The album’s tracks highlight this diversity: the title track “Love You to Death” begins as a slow, doomy blues that erupts into intense, unpredictable passages; “Sick in Love” swings at a medium tempo with rich interplay and exploratory solos; “I Think You Hung the Moon” is a sparse, poetic ballad simmering with anxious beauty and restraint; and “Eat Your Heart Out” closes the album on an exuberant, up-tempo swing note. Each piece invites listeners into a dialogue of risk and discovery, anchored by the trio’s unwavering trust and commitment to one another.

Adding a visual layer, artist Elodie Blanchard created illustrations for each track inspired by idioms about love, capturing the music’s blend of intimacy, humor, and oddness.

Beyond his work as a performer and composer, Moritz is a dedicated educator and curator. Since 2004, he has run the Prospect Series, a monthly house concert platform in Brooklyn spotlighting experimental and improvised music, fostering community and long-term musical relationships. Alongside his avant-garde projects, Moritz maintains a deep engagement with early jazz, performing weekly for the past four years in a trio with banjo and bass/sousaphone. This melding of trad jazz instrumentation and free improvisation underscores his lifelong dedication to sound, history, and community.

Love You to Death stands as a testament to the power of persistence, trust, and creative risk-taking. In a cultural landscape often chasing novelty, Moritz and his trio offer something more profound: the slow burn of presence, connection, and the unending pursuit of new musical possibilities.

Jonathan Moritz - tenor saxophone
Shayna Dulberger - double bass
Mike Pride - drums

Tracklist:
01 Love You to Death
02 Sick in Love
03 I Think You Hung the Moon
04 Eat Your Heart Out


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