In a review for
AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "What transpired over the course of the eight albums and supplementary material used elsewhere is nothing short of a complete transfiguration of one band into another one, from a band that followed the leader into places unknown to one that inspired him and pushed him further. All of this transpired in the span of only three years... There can be no arguing the value of the originally released recordings; whether they were issued during Coltrane's lifetime or after his death, they tell a story that millions of listeners formed their impressions by, true or false, and created a legacy that lives on. But there is also something to be said for setting the record straight, and the chronological approach that this set takes in no way desecrates the integrity of the original albums themselves... Simply put, it is indispensable to those who need a deeper understanding of Coltrane's music and the development of his most influential period. The sound quality is fully remastered to 20-bit technology, and the package is unwieldy but beautiful and sturdy. It's a must."
Ben Ratliff, in an article for
The New York Times, wrote: "What more can be said about the records every 50-and-under jazz fan knows?... After one spin, half of this music will be permanently remembered by the budding jazz fan; the other half will take the rest of a lifetime to be understood." ==Track listing==