Recorded in 1992 and 1993, the album was produced in part by Vasconcelos.[6][7] Many of the songs are about the Amazon rainforest; others are semi-autobiographical.[8][9] Vasconcelos added found sounds to the music.[10] He employed more electronic effects than on previous albums, although he still made use of the berimbau.[11][12] "Curtain" was cowritten by the Ambitious Lovers' Peter Scherer.[13]
The Guardian wrote: "There are string quartets, choirs, children's voices, the berimbau, gongs, accordions, talking drums, the works. The atmosphere he evokes is of the street-corner, the forest, cattle in fields. It isn't jazz, but Vasconcelos is an improviser to the tips of his fingers, and understands the impulses of improvisers from whatever roots they spring."[6] The Orange County Register deemed the album "a mesmerizing blend of Afro-Brazilian-jazz-global grooves"; it later named it one of the best albums of 1995.[13][16] The Omaha World-Herald opined that "some samba rhythms provide brief interest, but mostly the music wanders somewhat aimlessly."[17]
AllMusic called the music "often sweet and charming, and just as often thoughtful and engaging—never boring, annoying, or mediocre; it's also impossible to pigeonhole."[14] The Miami Herald labeled Storytelling "beautiful," writing that "Vasconcelos takes listeners on an ambient journey deep into the Amazon."[18]
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