After explorations of the music of Duke Ellington and Elton John, Los Angeles pianist, composer and arranger Ted Howe is going deep undercover – into the land of James Bond, aka Agent 007.
He is bringing new arrangements of more than a dozen Bond film themes to the Palladium on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Shaken Not Stirred: The Music of James Bond. The show features a five-piece band, two vocalists and Howe at the Steinway.
“This isn’t a jazz show,” said Howe, though there are elements of jazz in some of the songs. “These arrangements are a mix of Broadway, Latin, cabaret, swing, jazz, funk and hip hop.”
He was commissioned to create the show in 2008 by Hofstra University, which presents a pop culture seminar each year around a particular theme. That time the theme was all things “Bond.”
“People showed up who made the gadgets, the props. Some of the actors came. Pierce Brosnan was there,” Howe recalls. “The guy who was running the whole thing wanted to wind up the week with some Bond music.”
Howe enjoyed the gig, but wasn’t happy with his arrangements. So he’s spent the last few weeks in Los Angeles revising them, looking for a little more punch from the brass.
Songs include the James Bond Theme, Goldfinger, All Time High, Look of Love, Nobody Does It Better, Diamond Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Mister Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, The World Is Not Enough, Thunderball, We Have All The Time In The World, You Only Live Twice and For Your Eyes Only.
This appearance at the Palladium is a homecoming of sorts for Howe. His family moved from Boston to Shore Acres when he was in high school and he attended St. Petersburg Junior College in 1959 before signing up for the Army. During his service, Howe played in some great Army bands.
After the Army stint, Howe returned to his hometown of Boston and became the bandleader at The Surf Supper Club, one of the city’s top nightspots. He worked with lots of name entertainers and honed his skill as an arranger.
Howe later moved to Atlanta, where the helped created a jazz education program at Georgia State University and shared stages with lots of musical greats including Mel Torme, who insisted Howe be his accompanist anytime he visited Atlanta.
Los Angeles is now his home, though his touring schedule keeps him on the road a lot. Along with his own shows, he has worked with Lainie Kazan and the renowned jazz baritone, Giacomo Gates. He records for Summit Records.
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