Out of the Woods

Out of the Woods is a 1965 album by George Shearing accompanied by his quintet featuring compositions written and arranged by Gary Burton. Shearing had suggested to Burton that he write a composition in counterpoint, which became "J.S. Bop", Shearing was so pleased with the piece that he write several more for a new recording. This was the first time that Capitol Records had allowed Shearing to record original compositions instead of jazz standards. Burton described the album in his autobiography, Learning to Listen, as his "most ambitious effort at composing and arranging". He assumed that writing for the alto flute would be similar to the alto saxophone, but finding that it wasn't Paul Horn switched from the alto flute to the alto saxophone and "played softly enough to blend in with the other woodwinds". Reception