[1] Among the musicians are legendary tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Brian Blade.

[7][8] In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "This is Garrett's strongest moment in an already enduring career; it's fully realized compositionally, and in terms of its arrangements and its playing, it's virtually flawless without sacrificing emotion or creative intent or aesthetic vision.

"[3] The Washington Post's Geoffrey Himes called the recording "one of the year's best albums," and stated: "Garrett holds his own in... heady company, warbling his alto sax like an Islamic prayer horn one moment and shouting through it like an Alabama church choir the next.

"[5] In an article for PopMatters, Michael Kabran described the album as "easily one of the most enjoyable jazz releases of the last decade," and wrote: "Soulful, warm, and accessible... [it] deftly toed the magical tightrope between post-bop and the avant-garde... its top-notch performances, infectious melodies, and propulsive rhythms resulted in something truly special.

"[10] Steve Greenlee of JazzTimes stated that the album "is no gimmick, and its pancontinental jazz never feels contrived," and noted that Garrett's experience climbing the Great Wall "unleashed a new source of creativity in him.