The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow observed, "The music was quite uncommercial, complex, and advanced with the emphasis on the arrangements rather than the soloists".[5] In All About Jazz William Grim wrote, "The Innovations Orchestra was quite capable of swinging and it did much of the time. But it was also capable of producing music of an extraordinarily high quality that makes one think in addition to making one's toes tap".[7]
Recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA on February 3, 1950 (Disc One: tracks 1–6), February 4, 1950 (Disc One tracks 7–11), February 5, 1950 (Disc One: tracks 12–16), May 18, 1950 (Disc Two: tracks 1–3), June 5, 1950 (Disc Two: tracks 4 & 5) August 21, 1950 (Disc Two: track 6), August 24, 1950 (Disc Two: track 7), September 12, 1950 (Disc Two: track 8), and September 19, 1951 (Disc Two: tracks 9 & 10); and at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York on October 14, 1951 (Disc Two: tracks 11–14)
Alfred "Chico" Alvarez (tracks: 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8), Buddy Childers (tracks: 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5), Conte Candoli (tracks 2–9 to 2–14), John Coppola (tracks 2–9 to 2–14), Maynard Ferguson (tracks: 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8 to 2–14), John Howell (tracks 2–8 to 2–14), Don Paladino (tracks 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5), Shorty Rogers (tracks: 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8), Stu Williamson (tracks 2–9 to 2–14) – trumpet
Milt Bernhart (tracks: 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8), Harry Betts (tracks 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8 to 2–14), Bob Fitzpatrick (tracks 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8 to 2–14), Dick Kenney (tracks 2–9 to 2–14), Bill Russo (tracks 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–2, 2–4, 2–5, 2–8 to 2–14) – trombone (tracks 1–4, 7 & 8)
Clyde Brown (tracks 2-2, 2–4, 2–5), George Roberts (tracks 2–9 to 2–14), Bart Varsalona (tracks 1-1 to 1–5, 1–7 to 1–16, 2–8) – bass trombone
Jim Cathcart (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Earl Cornwell (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7, 2–11 to 2–14), Phil Davidson (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Lew Elias (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Barton Gray (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Jim Holmes (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Seb Mercurio (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), George Kast (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Maurice Koukel (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Alex Law (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7, 2–11 to 2–14), Dwight Muma (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Danny Napolitano (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Herbert Offner (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Carl Ottobrino (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Charlie Scarle (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Dave Schackne (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Ben Zimberoff (tracks: 2–11 to 2–14) – violin
Stan Harris (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Paul Israel (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Leonard Selic (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Aaron Shapiro (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Sam Singer (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7), Dave Smiley (tracks 2–11 to 2–14) – viola
Gregory Bemko (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7, 2–11 to 2–14), Zachary Bock (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7, 2–11 to 2–14), Gabe Jellen (tracks 2–11 to 2–14), Jack Wolfe (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–7) – cello (tracks 1–4 & 6–8)
Laurindo Almeida (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–4 to 2–6), Ralph Blaze (tracks 2–8 to 2–14) – guitar
Don Bagley (tracks 1-1 to 2–2, 2–4 to 2–6, 2–8 to 2–14), Abe Luboff (tracks 2–11 to 2–14) – bass