"Out in the Open" is an original composition by tenor saxophonist Sam Dillon, written for and debuted on his 2018 album of the same name on Cellar Live Records. The piece opens with an unaccompanied tenor saxophone introduction that establishes a lyrical, spacious character before the quartet enters. Dillon's writing emphasizes improvisational potential over rigid structure, with a melodic framework built around repeating six-note cells that can be transposed across the harmony. This approach creates rhythmic displacement and a fluid, open quality that gives the tune its name. The composition is one of two Dillon originals on the album, alongside "New Blues," and represents an early statement in what would become a growing catalog of original material as he established himself on the New York jazz scene. The sole recorded version features Dillon's quartet with Peter Zak on piano, Yoshi Waki on bass, and Billy Drummond on drums, delivering a straight-ahead performance in an extended heads-and-solos format. The tune remains a deep cut in Dillon's discography rather than a widely covered piece, though it offers a clear window into his compositional voice and his approach to melodic improvisation.
