[1][2] "My Birds" is dedicated to Cooper's former Revolutionary Ensemble bandmates Sirone and Leroy Jenkins.

[3] The album as a whole is dedicated to the memory of Captain Walter Dyett of DuSable High School in Chicago.

[3] In a review for AllMusic, arwulf arwulf wrote: "A Magical Approach... is recommended as an introduction to the inspired individualism of percussionist Jerome Cooper, who plainly states that his music cannot be categorized.... His primary innovation was to augment the standard American drum kit with the balafon...

"[4] Writing for All About Jazz-New York, Francis Lo Kee called the album "a remarkable artistic statement," and commented: "it is extraordinarily absorbing with no dead spots.

"[5] In an article for The Sound Projector, Ed Pinsent stated: "Terrific percussion CD... Fred Brown did the cover painting, and inside you'll find a photo of Cooper's old high school band, where even the way he tilts his snare to the camera is a gesture of righteous attitude.