As with his album with pianist Dave Newton, this has Woodville's Alan Barnes close up and personal in a duo set, this time with guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor. Confining himself to clarinet, Barnes reveals a level of subtlety and tonal control that speaks volumes for his instrumental savvy and creativity, viz the whispered final statements on ‘Willow Weep For Me’ or the gentle swing of ‘I Wish You Love’. As often happens with duos, you get a sense of an intimate, parlour-room set-to which we just happen to be on hand to overhear. It's not all lyrical and soft by any means either, ‘The Song Is You’ receiving quite a torrid seeing-to, and ‘Stranger On The Shore’ recalling Acker Bilk, Barnes’ first-ever inspiration, ahead of the skittering clarinet on ‘If I Had You’. Taylor is the perfect companion, up for anything, never short of an apposite response, technically assured and measured when he needs to be, his dynamic touch and phraseology like a beacon for taste and sensitivity. It's pleasing to hear him in this kind of to-and-fro, playing lines that both complement and enhance each passage of play. Barnes describes these classy sessions as “fulfilling and happy” for him. Same goes for me too.