the allmusic review by mark romano said "these are the best renderings of a true baritone sax artist. the title cut on this album is worth the price of admission alone ... unforgettable and to be reckoned with. there's hard bop and swing here, too ... brignola had an uncanny ability to combine his muscular phrasing with a supreme sensitivity. nick brignola never got the recognition that he deserved while alive, which is common with jazz musicians. but that doesn't mean that their work won't live forever in the form of recorded music. highly recommended for jazz fans and listeners who want to go beyond musical categories". in jazztimes, sid gribetz noted "brignola plays with staggering virility and facile expertise on the sometimes cumbersome bari, and he produces a sound that is silky smooth and possessed of honest emotion".