Notwithstanding their respective billing, West Side Story devotes relatively little space to Tjader's – or any – improvisation, and thus remains notable, more as an early showcase for Fischer's arranging and orchestral prowess, and as the first recorded document of the pair's longstanding association.

"[4]Billboard concurred, citing Fischer's work in particular: A highly polished and feelingful musical interpretation of "West Side Story" is the latest LP by Cal Tjader.

Billboard's B-side assessment (of the uptempo, non-orchestral rendition of "Cool") was likewise framed primarily in terms of Fischer's involvement: "... this time, much more in a driving framework.

First, he makes a nice little combo of tuba, French horn, flute and trombone, adding fresh colors to a Bernstein score which is itself one of the few which seems to attend in the least to how the orchestra sounds.

Second, he makes the fiddles cool it with that fruity vibrato, opening them up so they sound like a few violins instead of a bad imitation of a lot of violins.And in the third, he has a real rhythm section – Shelly Manne, Red Mitchell, Mongo and himself – instead of two bored automatons.