The quintet were keyboardist Herbie Hancock, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, drummer Tony Williams, bassist Ron Carter and saxophonist Wayne Shorter (on tenor and soprano).

The album was originally released in October 1977 as a 2-disc LP by Columbia Records.

An excerpt from a review in the January 1978 issue of Downbeat is quoted on the back of the album and describes the performance: What the audience applauds on this album transcends mere form, technique and instrumentation.

They were thrilled by the charisma generated by five masters who listened to one another's inner ears, spoke to each other at multiple levels, and, no matter how dense the musical content, conveyed their messages to the audience with amazing clarity.

"Jessica" was originally released on Hancock's Fat Albert Rotunda album, recorded in 1969.