"In January 2001, William Parker unveiled his phenomenal new Quartet with this album. O'Neal's Porch went on to be chosen among the Best Jazz Albums of the Year by The New York Times, JazzTimes, Downbeat, and All About Jazz.

"For its historical breadth, spiritual depth, and sheer exhilaration,
this is the jazz album of the year." –Jazziz

From liner notes by David Budbill, which
accompanied the original release edition:

William Parker is not only one of the world's most accomplished and creative bass players, he is one of the great melody makers, song-writers, of our time. In song after song on this CD, through the sheer beauty of his sweet melodies, his bubbling, effusive, good humor and the energizing, life-affirming, great joy that infuses everything here, William gives us the gift of his love for us and for the world. As pianist and composer Cooper-Moore says, "William is like Duke Ellington to us; he's like Mingus, even beyond that because neither Mingus nor Duke had the compassion William has." And it is compassion and love that drives this album forward – that and the killer rhythm section."

AUM Fidelity