The album was recorded at Manhattan Center Studios, New York, on November 13 and December 9, 2000.

[1] Pianist Taylor's trio for the recording contained bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Winard Harper.

[2] The ten pieces were written as pedagogical material for the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University.

[3] The AllMusic reviewer concluded that, of the albums in Taylor's catalog, "this recording should be one of the first acquired".

[4] The JazzTimes reviewer expressed admiration for Taylor's piano playing, but wrote that the spoken-word track "comes out like an awkward public-service announcement and breaks the vibe".