The
AllMusic review by Glenn Swan awarded the album 4½ stars and states, "After 20 years of working together, they trust each other (and the audience) enough to deliver over two hours of unscripted music... it adds a rewarding layer of understanding and appreciation, as few musicians can deliver such diamonds with so little structure in place. Song for song, the symbiosis is a marvel to behold—and the audience knows it. These are gods at play, and the lightning bolts they toss around are awe-inspiring." In a review for
DownBeat, Thomas Conrad wrote, "
Always Let Me Go sustains a heightened sense of imaginative focus through its sudden shifts, peaks and valleys, the exquisitely realized songs within songs that the trio comes upon... and the dramatic swings of its dynamic scope. In its 20th year, this trio keeps growing in its ability to challenge the creativity of its listeners." The authors of
The Penguin Guide to Jazz commented, "As a document of Jarrett's almost 150th performance in Japan, it's impeccable." == Track listing ==