Natural Illusions

The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 1½ stars and stated "Natural Illusions is one of the rare Bobby Hutcherson dates that finds the vibraphonist flirting with the mainstream and fusion... There's little of the unpredictable phrasing and modal harmonies that distinguished Hutcherson's albums, and the music often sounds conventional, making it one of the lesser efforts in his catalog".[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

All compositions by Bobby Hutcherson except where noted

1. "When You Are Near" - 3:56
2. "The Thrill Is Gone" (Rick Darnell, Roy Hawkins) - 4:23
3. "Sophisticated Lady" (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish) - 6:02
4. "Rain Every Thursday" - 3:39
5. "The Folks Who Live On the Hill" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) - 4:58
6. "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn) - 5:28
7. "Shirl" (Horace Silver) - 5:10

• Bobby Hutcherson – vibes
• Hank Jones – piano
• Gene Bertoncini – guitar
• Ron Carter – bass
• Jack DeJohnette – drums
• Wade Marcus – arranger
• Phil Bodner, Hubert Laws, Romeo Penque, Daniel Trimboli - flute
• George Marge – oboe
• John Leone – bassoon
• Eugene Bianco – harp
• George Duvivier – bass
• Irving Spice, Aaron Rosand – violin
• Julian Barber, Seymour Berman – viola
• Seymour Barab – cello