Big Chief Dreaming is an album by saxophonists John Tchicai and Tino Tracanna, guitarist Garrison Fewell, double bassist Paolino Dalla Porta, and drummer Massimo Manzi.

"[1] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings stated: "The music is quite accommodating, and slightly retro in feel, but the original writing... is a nice balance of tradition and innovation.

"[5] AAJ's Jerry D'Souza commented: "Inspiration is forged on the empathy of the musicians, and all five pick up that invisible emotional thread and weave it into appealing patterns.

"[9] In an article for Point of Departure, Bill Shoemaker stated that the music is characterized by "a folk music-informed lyricism, smart approaches to structure, and a swing feel that doesn't lose its suppleness with increases of heat."

He wrote: "Though the materials range from Ornettish dirges to puckish, Monk-inspired romps and workouts driven by oddly accented grooves, the quintet has an appealing, quietly urgent temperament that coheres the date.