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Getz commissioned the suite from the composer and arranger Eddie Sauter, asking for original music Sauter believed in rather than arrangements of standards. Verve executives wanted him to record something more commercial, but he wanted a personal statement. It was recorded at Webster Hall in New York in July 1961 with a string orchestra conducted by Hershy Kay and a rhythm section of Steve Kuhn, John Neves and Roy Haynes. The orchestra recorded the first four pieces before Getz played on them, and on 28 July he overdubbed his improvised lines to those while wearing earphones and recorded the other three live with the orchestra.

The theme of the opener, I'm Late, I'm Late, is nearly identical to the start of the second movement of Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, which Sauter meant as a homage. Haynes is the only soloist besides Getz. Two complete takes were spliced together, which made it the longest piece on the record.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz put it in its Core Collection, writing that nobody ever arranged for Getz as well as this. AllMusic's Stephen Cook called it arguably his finest moment, and DownBeat gave it five stars. The Guardian described it in 2020 as wildly adventurous at the time and widely regarded as a Getz masterpiece. Getz later called it his favorite among his own records.