"[3] The album consists of six original compositions by McFarland scored for an 11-piece ensemble that includes two violas and two cellos along with highly notable jazz performers such as guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Richard Davis, and Phil Woods on clarinet.

Evans remained "a faithful admirer" of McFarland after this project and later added his composition "Gary's Theme" to his repertoire,[4] recording it on the album You Must Believe in Spring.

The original DownBeat review awarded the album 4.5 stars, saying, "Evans emerges in beautiful fashion from these settings, appearing as a very logical part of the whole rather than having to drag each piece along with him as he might have if McFarland had not written as astutely as he has.

"[6] Pettinger comments, "The pianist had always tended to work well with vibraphonists, as his records with Eddie Costa, Dave Pike, and now McFarland showed.

"[8] Keith Shadwick adds, "The music ranges from quasi-classical ... to open-ended constructions of the sort often employed by Duke Ellington, where intriguing ensemble passages are contrasted against and defined by the consequent solos.