Matt Collar of Allmusic stated "Back East showcases saxophonist Joshua Redman as he leads a few different trios through a cerebral and muscular set of originals and standards.

Redman has long evinced the influences of such similarly inclined legends as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and John Coltrane, and Back East is no exception -- which isn't to say it's business as usual.

Admittedly, while this is a straight-ahead acoustic jazz date, it is one ripe with creative energy that finds Redman's knack for deeply thoughtful improvisation and unexpected rhythmic interplay in full flower."

And on tracks like Coltrane's "India" and Redman's own "Indonesia" and "Mantra #5," the saxman signs an entry into jazz's long-running conversation with Asian rhythms, harmonies, and cultural themes.

It's a lot of creative directions for one album to contain, let alone develop; pairings like the jaunty " The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" that opens the recording, with the spare and hypnotic soprano sax line that anchors "Zarafah," make this something of a tapas plate for jazz omnivores.