Montreal Gazette Thursday 2/5/04 Jazz Fred Hess Quartet The Long And Short Of It Tapestry Rating 4.5/5 Stars Once again, the Denver-based saxophonist Fred Hess has demonstrated his uncanny ability to work the outside of free jazz while combining it with core values of rhythm and harmony. As in his Extended Family (Tapestry) released last year, Hess again uses his own compositions as improvisational vehicles in the six-to-eight-minute range. His Joe-Lovano-like voice contrasts with the rougher-edged trumpet playing of Ron Miles. Ken Filiano on arco and pizzicato bass, and Matt Wilson on drums, are full participating partners in crafting the varied sonic contours that characterize this session. Wilson even uses a battery-powered drill among other noisemakers on one shorter exploratory piece called Gear Tips. There is nothing pretentious about it in this adventure, which begs for return trips. -Irwin Block