In the first several months of the pandemic, I was desperate for live music. My girlfriend and I would take long walks, and one day we were drawn to some music we heard coming from a block or two away. A guitarist and violinist were playing at the end of their driveway. A clarinet player across the street from them and several others on the block, playing various instruments (flute, bass, percussion), joined them. We soon learned that this group of neighbors played every night at 7 p.m., and so we shaped our walks around these short concerts. They basically got us through those stressful and uncertain months. They’d always close the set with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” clearly missing baseball games as well as concerts. That year, 2020, was the only year I did not see a Red Sox game since 1978. Well, Kane Kalas chooses to open this album with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” His father, to whom this album is dedicated, was the play-by-play announcer for the Phillies. And Kane Kalas adds an opening section to the track: “Harry Kalas was Philly’s voice/Knew his calling, he had no choice.” Here Kane sings, “Let us root, root, root for the Phillies,” though in my head I hear “Red Sox.” And of course there is some nice organ work here. The track has a bit of a carnival feel, and, sure, there can be that sort of vibe at a baseball park, no question. Lou Brody joins Kane Kalas on vocals for this track. By the way, Kane Kalas is pictured with a baseball bat on the back cover of the CD case, though in a tuxedo.
In the liner notes, Kane Kalas mentions that his father used to hum “All Of Me.” I still associate this song with the 1984 Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin film All Of Me, and that’s probably where I first heard the song. Kane Kalas delivers an excellent rendition, with a strong, timeless vocal performance. There is also a delightful instrumental section featuring some wonderful work on saxophone. I also like the piano work on this track. Then on “I’ve Never Been In Love Before,” Kane’s vocals are supported by beautiful work on piano. “I’ve never been in love before/Now all at once it’s you/It’s you forevermore.” Oh yes, the feeling of this song is exactly the feeling I have with regards to my girlfriend. You know, you think you’ve been in love, but then when you meet that special person, you realize everything that came before was something short of love. “I’m full of foolish song,” Kane sings here, but there is nothing foolish about music or love. I love this rendition. He gives such a great and true performance. That’s followed by “On The Way To Cape May,” which is a total delight, featuring ukulele. When it kicks in, it should have you smiling. Here he sings of falling in love again: “You made my dreams come true/I was taken by your smile.” And on this track he is joined by Rachel Brennan on vocals. They give us a totally enjoyable duet. Isn’t this how life is supposed to be, what it’s supposed to sound like? There is even some cheerful whistling in the middle. There is also playful vocal banter toward the song’s conclusion. “You’re so weird,” she tells him at the end.
Apparently, Kane Kalas, in addition to be a talented vocalist, is a talented poker player, and so it is fitting that he sings “Luck Be A Lady” on this album. And this track features one of his strongest vocal performances. Also, the orchestra sounds perfect. “A lady doesn’t make little snake eyes at me/‘Cause I bet my life on this roll.” This album is making my want to revisit Guys And Dolls. “Luck Be A Lady” is followed by “French Foreign Legion.” This is music that will take you back in time, and with the country’s current division, it is perhaps more appealing than ever before. Well, regardless, the music is good. Kane Kalas also gives us the title track from Guys And Dolls, and here he is joined on vocals by Lou Brody and Joe Conklin, and the three of them seem to be having a blast. This is the third song from that musical that he includes on this album, and perhaps the reason can be found in the liner notes, where Kane Kalas writes, “Dad’s favorite musical was Guys & Dolls” (well, in addition to the fact that these are just great songs). “When you see a Joe saving half of his dough/You can bet there’ll be mink in it for some doll/When a bum buys wine like a bum can’t afford/It’s a cinch that that bum is under the thumb of some little broad.”
The album’s title track, “High Hopes,” is also another of its delights. Here he is joined by members of the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, directed by Jeffrey Smith, and Lucas Drass. Kane Kalas really gets into the playful spirit of the song. That’s followed by another cheerful number, “You Make Me Feel So Young.” I love his delivery, and the way the piano supports his mood. “You make me feel there are songs to be sung.” Well, we can be glad he feels that way, because this album is wonderful. He also gives us an excellent rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight.” This is a song that often gets in my head, usually when my girlfriend is smiling. Kane Kalas delivers a warm, beautiful performance, supported mainly by piano. “Lovely, don’t you ever change/Keep that breathless charm/Won’t you please arrange it/‘Cause I love you/Just the way you look tonight.” This is another of the disc’s highlights. Then the trumpet calls for our attention at the beginning of “Fugue For Tinhorns,” another playful tune. Lou Brody and John Conahan join Kane Kalas on vocals.
Kane’s father wasn’t just a Phillies fan, but also an Eagles fan, and so “Eagles’ Victory Song” is included on this album. Do all NFL teams have a victory song? I have actually never attended a Patriots game, so I don’t know if the Patriots do. Anyway, it’s kind of a goofy thing, with a military vibe, but it’s less than two minutes long. That’s followed by a pretty rendition of “Edelweiss.” Not only have I never attended an NFL game, but I’ve also never seen The Sound Of Music. I’m not all that interested in seeing it, but there are certainly some good songs from that musical, and this is one of the best recordings of any song from it that I’ve heard. In the disc’s liner notes, Kane mentions it was his father’s favorite song. Kane Kalas follows that with another beautiful song, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” This track this had me in tears, though perhaps in part because of what he’d written in the disc’s liner notes, and because my dad loved Simon & Garfunkel too. Kane Kalas puts his own spin on the song, particularly at the end. The album concludes with a sweet and soothing and pretty rendition of “Goodnight My Someone.” “Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.”
CD Track List
- Take Me Out To The Ballgame
- All Of Me
- I’ve Never Been In Love Before
- On The Way To Cape May
- Luck Me A Lady
- French Foreign Legion
- This Is The Moment
- Guys And Dolls
- On The Street Where You Live
- High Hopes
- You Make Me Feel So Young
- If Ever I Would Leave You
- The Way You Look Tonight
- Fugue For Tinhorns
- Eagles’ Victory Song
- Edelweiss
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Goodnight My Someone
High Hopes was released on April 6, 2023.
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