The Challenge (album)

[1] The project was "a result of a Japanese producer's enthusiasm for Hawes's music.

"[2] The material includes jazz standards, the contemporary pop song "Who Can I Turn To?

[2] Hawes uses "contrapuntal left-hand lines, doubtless compensating for the absence of bass and drums.

[2] The AllMusic reviewer concluded: "the pianist shows that he could create stirring music without the assistance of a rhythm section.

"[3] The Penguin Guide to Jazz commented that the album was important for being Hawes's only solo release, and noted that even the unsuccessful performance of "Clementine" provided the listener with an insight into "Hawes's harmonic instincts and his fine structural intelligence.