“IN WILLISAU.” Dewey Redman and Ed Blackwell....

“IN WILLISAU.” Dewey Redman and Ed Blackwell. Black Saint BSR 0093. Steer clear of “In Willisau” if you savor jazz for its tidy compositions. This live duet set recorded at a 1980 German festival focuses your attention on the empathy and interaction between two gifted musicians. Blackwell’s chattering, polyrhythmic drumming serves as an active melodic foil to Redman’s stately sax lines and the common language the pair absorbed playing with Ornette Coleman anchors the performances. The exotic, Middle Eastern flavor of Redman’s musette makes “We Hope” a standout, but there are few weak links or missteps here. 4 stars.