KEMEUL ROIG, Both Sides Now

Solo piano albums often tempt artists toward technical exhibitionism, but on Both Sides Now, Cuban-born pianist Kemuel Roig takes the opposite path. Throughout this thoughtful collection of pop, jazz and Latin standards, he favors emotional depth, spacious reflection and lyrical storytelling, inviting listeners to linger inside melodies they thought they already knew.

Roig opens with a hypnotic waltz interpretation of Paul McCartney’s “Junk” before reimagining The Young Rascals’ “How Can I Be Sure” with flowing elegance that uncovers emotional layers often hidden beneath the familiar tune. His two extended readings of Jimmy Rowles’ “The Peacocks” serve as the album’s most overt jazz statements, balancing contemplative introspection with bursts of kinetic energy, long trills and shifting shades of light and darkness.

Elsewhere, Roig’s touch is consistently exquisite. “Solamente Una Vez,” “Contigo Aprendí” and “Esta Tarde Vi Llover” draw on his Latin heritage while maintaining the album’s quietly meditative character. Cole Porter’s “I Love You,” Rodgers and Hart’s “My Romance,” Billie Holiday’s “Don’t Explain” and Joni Mitchell’s title track unfold with uncommon grace, tenderness and restraint, allowing each phrase to breathe naturally. Even “Bésame Mucho” and “Windmills of Your Mind,” among the album’s more rhythmically active performances, remain rooted in reflection rather than display.

The cumulative effect is remarkably intimate. Roig doesn’t simply interpret these songs; he creates deeper entry points into them, revealing nuances that encourage listeners to contemplate their meaning long after the final notes fade. Both Sides Now is a masterfully understated solo piano recording that rewards patience, reflection and repeated listening.