The cover artwork was created by Arnold Roth.

When there is not complete freedom of the soloist, it ceases to be jazz."

"Sweet Cleo Brown", one of the two Brubeck originals on the album, is dedicated to pianist Cleo Patra Brown, who had a great influence on him.

"She had the fastest left hand I've ever heard, except for Tatum's.

[...] It was mostly from her I learned the importance of the left hand fulfilling the role of the string bass."