whitney balliett wrote that "tatum is a perfect whole in the 1949 los angeles concert. almost every number has passages to ponder and weep over", and highlighted "an arpeggio, lasting some eight bars, that no other pianist would dare because it is impossible" in "the man i love". the "daily record" reviewer described the album as "an outstanding example of the genius that is art tatum". a reviewer for "the capital times" wrote: "applause and auditorium noises give it a live performance atmosphere."