Putting out an album of clarinet and guitar duets is a formidable task. Making it an all-ballad album is audacious. No one in New Orleans has a more beautiful clarinet sound than Tim Laughlin; as a band mate and as a listener I’ve seen many instances of people practically swooning over that juicy tone of his. Hank Mackie is a fine complement to Laughlin: inventive and tasteful, and immersed in the right chords from years of teaching hundreds of guitar students, including Steve Masakowski. While both these guys can swing when necessary, this is a relentlessly low-key affair, an album of thoughtful, pretty background music a la Sinatra’s “Only the Lonely” or Satie’s piano music. Just add a glass of cognac and a good book.