The AllMusic review by Steve Loewy states " For those who know Douglas only for his forays into the avant-garde, this recording should open some eyes; the trumpeter has a strong handle on the tradition. Actually, this is nothing new, as he has been remarkably at home with a broad collection of styles for years".[3] On All About Jazz, Mark Corroto said "For Douglas' first US major label release, he chose to record music that was accessible to devotees of the Wynton Marsalis revolution as well as Douglas' own legion of fans. Like Mary Lou Williams herself, the sextet takes us from the stride piano styling of Uri Caine to the post-bop saxophone lamentations of Chris Speed and Greg Tardy. It is almost as if Douglas is telling us it can be just as hip to look backward, as it is to look forward. Mary Lou Williams' music affords just such opportunity".[4]
Track listing
All compositions by Dave Douglas except as indicated
