The AllMusic review by Glenn Astarita stated: "Paul Bley intermingles askew phraseology with geometrically fabricated lines and endearing propositions. Recommended!".[3]All About Jazz wrote that "like any other true artist, Bley continues to grow and investigate, and Basics shares the complexity of his thought conveyed through his medium of expression".[5]Metro Times noted: "Still impressionistic, he's developed a more fluid approach, which makes listening to the unaccompanied instrument seem like less work than it used to be. His probing comes across as less portentous now, encased in a lyrical flow of playful sensuality".[6]JazzTimes observed: "Although subtly shaded dynamics are a key feature of this disc, there's no denying Bley's percussive attack and firm tone, perhaps originally conceived to cut through the chatter in a noisy club".[7]
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