On the album, Crispell is joined by violinist Billy Bang, guitarist Wes Brown, and drummer John Betsch.

[1] In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "Marilyn Crispell is one of the most significant piano voices of the avant-garde...

This Cadence release... finds her leading her own trio... On one of the four lengthy improvisations heard on this set, guitarist Wes Brown makes the band a quartet.

"[2] The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings stated: "'Spirit Music' is dedicated to Coltrane and represents some sort of coming-to-terms with her 'overwhelming' introduction to A Love Supreme.

"[3] Tom Moon, in his book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, listed Spirit Music as a suggested follow-up to Cecil Taylor's Silent Tongues.