I make this the fifth duo album from these two. Their first, Like Minds, appeared back in 1993 on the Fret label (with a booklet note by your correspondent), followed by Summertime on Concord in 2000. Now comes this elegiac, reflective collaboration, their third on Barnes’ own Woodville imprint, these pared-down performances representing just one aspect of their ongoing musical friendship which began at Leeds College in 1977.

Where many of their joint activities concentrate on the realisation of complex compositions or full-on bebop interpretations, the overall mood here is one of unhurried secular interplay, nothing fevered or overly clever, the tempos modest, Barnes concentrating on thoughtful expositions of these varied pieces, his clarinet on the opening Jobim composition measured and deeply felt, the fireworks dampened down. Momentarily, one is reminded of those classic Ruby Braff/Ellis Larkins duets, both in the overall grace of the playing as well as in the trust the two men place in each other, their various musical prompts slipped in without artifice.

Take Newton's gorgeous re-harmonising of ‘You’re My Thrill’, his piano understated but sinewy, or Barnes’ clarinet on ‘London By Night’, pure-toned and solemn. Bernstein's ‘Lucky To Be Me’ has him in classic tenor ballad mode, agile and beguiling, while it's his sonorous bass-clarinet on Henry Nemo's title track, the exposition calmly stated, Newton picking up the rhythm. Ellington's beautiful ‘Tonight I Shall Sleep With A Smile On My Face’ features Temperley-like baritone, the album closing with ‘A Bientôt’ by Peanuts Hucko, its twilight feel enhanced by Barnes's bass-clarinet. So, nine themes, none hackneyed, Barnes sure-footed on all five horns, Newton as ever the perfect companion. Still like-minded? For sure.