Reviewing for The Village Voice in July 2004, Tom Hull said that "this isn't a great album, but it's voluble and exciting the way Carter can be."[4]
The Allmusic review by Al Campbell says, "Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge finds Carter cutting loose like a musician who's been conceptually sidetracked long enough. This is a back to basics blowing session and concepts be damned".[2] In JazzTimes Chris Kelsey called the album "a rollicking session that captures the loose vibe of a nightclub set to near perfection".[5] On All About Jazz Russ Musto noted, "James Carter is a passionate player whose solos are frequently pushed over the top by his awesome virtuosity. That tendency is put to good use on this live extravaganza recorded before a raucous crowd at Baker's Keyboard Lounge. ... Carter moves effortlessly through his arsenal of saxophones on an exciting program of jazz classics".[6]
