4 Jazz Waltzes

Over the years, and particularly from the 1960s onwards, Liverpool, England has had more than its fair share of excellent musicians. Mark Houghton was born there in 1959 and since winning the Chris Kilvington Memorial Prize (Oillington Music Festival) in 2000 he has become another “name” from that city, this time representing the classical guitar rather than in the world of popular music. In 2007 he won the CGML Composition competition in Brazil and has had many works published with at least five different publishing houses. His Jazz Waltzes (op. 53) was written in 2007 and were given their premiere performance by Duo Musaikon who included the composition on their CD Eurasia. There are in total, four waltzes - two short, two long - and all four are individual little gems. They each have beguiling melodies and attractive harmonisations and from the opening foot-tapping, swingy one through to the final jubilant waltz which has, to me, a very Englishness surrounding it, Houghton doesn't put a note out of place. In between there is a gorgeous late-night, moody piece and a quirky, optimistic one, which prompted thoughts of circus activities. These are simply lovely compositions and with the sound of the clarinet and guitar getting so well together I would love to hear these performed in concert. The presentation is excellent with separate parts for the clarinet; the standard required would be of the Grade 6-7 mark. Recommended.

Steve Marsh (Classical Guitar Magazine)