On the album, Lincoln is joined by a core group consisting of vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Marc Cary, double bassist John Ormond, and drummer Alvester Garnett, plus guests Nicholas Payton (trumpet and flugelhorn), James Hurt (piano), Michael Bowie (double bass), Daniel Moreno (percussion), and Maggie Brown (vocals).

Lincoln's phrasing can sound eccentric, even perverse, yet few vocalists can rival her ability to convey pure emotion–by turns rueful, reflective and exultant.

"[8] In an article for The Atlantic, Bob Blumenthal called the album "another lesson in how to mesmerize and instruct," and remarked: "To a gritty voice that recalls Billy Holiday in texture and emotional commitment, Lincoln adds personal magnetism and a knack for fashioning programs as surely paced as they are eccentric.

"[9] A reviewer for CMJ New Music Report described the album as "one of those truly special releases that comes along only once in a great while," and wrote: "Every time [Lincoln] takes on a new tune, she imbues it with depth, resonance and shades of meaning that often go beyond simple performance into the realm of the sublime.

"[10] The Austin Chronicle's Raoul Hernandez called the recording "a deep, rich, ultimately sublime work that's sure to stand among the 69-year-old singer's finest albums," and stated: "her songs, lyrics, and voice -- cured by age like an antique mahogany armoire -- channel Wholly Mother Earth herself.