[1] The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek states: "The first disc features Taylor playing at the beginning of his residency in June, performing solo.

The dynamics and hammering runs of enormous chord clusters and constructively built pyramids of middle-range and lower-register notes cascade from his hands in bursts in the opening section of the lengthy "Reinforced Concrete."

[5] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 4 stars, and wrote: "thunder and lightning, light and shade, and brimful of music, even across two long CDs...

"[3] Writing for The Philadelphia Tribune, Jules Epstein commented: "Recorded before the historic opening of the Berlin wall, Taylor heralded musically the strains of freedom in this stirring, and generally magnificent, performance.

Indeed, while there is barely a recording in existence with a greater freedom, experimentation and independence, it is hard to find a more appreciative audience than the East Germans who attended this concert... the duets with drummer Günter Sommer... are awe-inspiring... Taylor's performance is titanic, leaving the serious listener spent and fulfilled.