Blues & Boogies

Mark Houghton seems to have a knack of writing music which is most accessible to both performer and audience. The six pieces in this volume are, at first sight straight forward to play. Then you start to realise that whilst the pages aren't filled with notes, the space which the composer gives you is to be used by understanding the style and often wit of the titles. The titles are: Dizzy Blues, Bugle-Boy Shuffle, G Major Boogie, Jig-Beat Blues, Ground Bass Boogie and Joe's Blues; all will give you a sense of the character of each title. This is not a book of pastiche writing, each piece stands either on its own or as part of this attractive set.

John Arran (Classical Guitar Magazine)

For a Liverpudlian, Houghton shows a good grasp of the popular genres from this side of the Atlantic. Houghton is a very eclectic composer (in the good sense of that appellation) and it is always a treat to see what he might come up with next. And here we are. This book has six separate pieces here, at about a Grade 4-5 level. Three are in the twelve-bar blues format, with two cast as homages (to Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Pass). The other three are boogie-woogies, and the difference between the styles is primarily one of nuance versus language. All are on two pages, so they are quite useable for gig work. Recommended for all.

David Norton (Soundboard Magazine)