Dark Piano Contemplations is the fifth solo piano album from Manuel Peguero, but is a first for me - and definitely not the last! The fourteen tracks include two modern classical pieces, seven film score arrangements and five original compositions. The overall theme of the album is intended to capture the longing for change and a desire to embrace a new adventure while secretly contemplating how to make that happen. Quoting Manuel Peguero:

“The inspiration is partially personal, yet I’ve always liked ‘conniving or sneaky’ music. Some on the list capture the idea more closely than others. As per my originals, you’ll notice even in the titles, they are absolutely meant to portray the concept of introspective planning.”

It is interesting to note that Peguero’s playing style is confident and expressive, but is not cut from the same cloth as, say, Liberace and others, where showmanship matters almost as much as the music itself. Peguero’s style emphasizes mood and melody, telling stories with both his originals and covers. The film music goes back as far as the early 1960’s, as do the modern classical pieces. Peguero’s arrangements are faithful to the originals, but he definitely makes them his own - a delicate balance that he handles very well!

Dark Piano Contemplations begins with “Put the past behind you,” which was composed by Wolfgang Netzer for the 2004 documentary, Fahrenheit 911. The steady rhythm of the left hand feels like the ticking of a clock while the darkly mysterious theme is much freer - an intriguing start! “Chess Match” comes from 2002’s Lucky Number Slevin and is slow, deliberate and kinda spooky! “Triumph Is Near” is the first of the originals and is also very mysterious, moving up and down the piano keyboard as it tells its story. I really like this one! “Deliverance” comes from the 1972 movie with the same name, but isn’t the more familiar “Dueling Banjos.” This one has a similar theme but in a minor key. “The Fog” comes from the 1980 film with the same name and is very dark, intense and lively after a sinister beginning. “Vigilance Before the Voyage,” another original, feels steady and determined. “Dining with Lecter” is from the 2013 TV series, Hannibal. I didn’t see the series, but saw the two earlier films and this arrangement really captures the creepy feeling of Dr. Lecter! It also shows that Peguero’s fingers are as nimble and expressive as the best of them - another favorite! “Silent Defiance,” an original, is sometimes almost mournful and really tugs at the heartstrings! “Invocacion y Danza” is a classical guitar piece by Joaquin Rodrigo that Peguero arranged as a piano solo - also very intense and mysterious. The original “A Man Finds His Own Path” has a very distinctive Spanish flavor and lightens the mood a bit. “Carlito’s Way” from the 1992 film feels fiercely determined while staying very dark and intense. The album comes to a close with Peguero’s “Abscond to Freedom,” which is, again, very dark with a sense of the urgency of possible danger ahead. Near the end, the feeling seems to change to one of triumph. We made it!

Dark Piano Contemplations is an album well-worth exploring, and I’m looking forward to Manuel Peguero’s upcoming release, Dark Piano Conspiracies, due out June 26, 2026. Dark Piano Contemplations can be streamed and downloaded on Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes and is also available on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Check it out!