Scott Yanow of AllMusic stated, "Woody Shaw's first album for a major label, Rosewood features the trumpeter with a sextet... Rosewood was a consensus Jazz Album Of The Year in 1977. This modal music ranks with his best work".[3]
The album resulted in Shaw receiving many accolades including nominations as Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in DownBeat's International Jazz Critics Poll (1977), as well as Jazz Album of the Year and Best Trumpeter in DownBeat's Readers Poll (1978). Rosewood also received two Grammy Award Nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance (Soloist) and Best Jazz Instrumental Performance (Group) (1979).
Track listing
All compositions by Woody Shaw except as indicated
"Rosewood" - 7:11
"Everytime I See You" (Onaje Allan Gumbs) - 7:14
"The Legend of the Cheops" (Victor Lewis) - 6:03
"Rahsaan's Run" - 5:10
"Sunshowers" (Clint Houston) - 7:48
"Theme for Maxine" - 7:15
"Isabel, the Liberator" (Larry Willis) - 8:27 Bonus track on CD reissue