On the album, Herring is joined by keyboardist and flutist Kofi Burbridge, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and drummer Jeff Sipe, along with guest musicians Greg Osby (saxophone), Derek Trucks (slide guitar), Bobby Lee Rodgers (rhythm guitar), Ike Stubblefield (organ), Scott Kinsey (organ), Matt Slocum (keyboards), and Tyler Greenwell (drums).

"[7] AAJ's Ian Patterson wrote: "It's been a while coming, but Jimmy Herring's solo debut is a major achievement and will no doubt ride high in quite a number of best-of-2008 lists in jazz, rock, fusion and guitar periodicals alike.

"[9] James Calemine of Snake Nation Press wrote: "This instrumental CD contains some of the most complex and invigorating jazz-rock recorded in the last decade... Lifeboat is further testimony to Herring's incandescent talent for songwriting, guitar virtuosity and his ability to serve as a catalyst for other accomplished musicians to streamline a coherent sound.

"[10] A reviewer for The Guitar Channel remarked: "Lifeboat shows that Herring has a deep love for jazz, and he's very adept at playing that style of music.

"[11] JamBase's Eric Podolsky stated: "In his mastery of the electric guitar, [Herring] is able to combine the cerebral with the soulful, and mash them together into one blissful element.