Chicago 2002

The album features an extended Rutherford solo followed by three tracks on which he is joined by saxophonists Lol Coxhill and Mats Gustafsson, trombonist Jeb Bishop, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, bassist Kent Kessler, and percussionist Kjell Nordeson.

[1][2][3][4][5] In a review for AllMusic, François Couture wrote: "Free improv albums rarely come as satisfying as this one," and, regarding the solo piece, stated that Rutherford is "in very good shape: inventive, resourceful, and absolutely capable of keeping an improvisation interesting for that long."

He called "Blue Bottle" "a fantastic 20-minute group improvisation which features stunning interplay, a wide exploration of dynamics and colors... and an unmatched level of excitement.

"[1] Bill Shoemaker of JazzTimes called the trombone solo "hugely enjoyable," and noted that it "exemplifies Rutherford's unique ability to make challenging, trenchant materials flow effortlessly and his keen sense of pacing."

Regarding the ensemble tracks, he wrote: "There's a looseness to some of the sections that betrays the group's nascency, but by and large the interplay stays highly engaged.