In 1999, The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz also gave Holiday for Pans a four-star review. Writing for The Rough Guide to Jazz in 2004, Ian Carr selected Holiday for Pans as one of three touchstone recordings by Pastorius that readers should seek out. Carr describes the album as "Pastorius in collaboration with Michael Gibbs and an ensemble which includes the great Toots Thielemans, in a joyfully creative orchestral deployment of West Indian steel drums.
In 1999, The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz also gave Holiday for Pans a high rating. In 2004, Ian Carr highlighted Holiday for Pans as one of three essential recordings by Pastorius that readers should look into. Carr describes the album as "Pastorius working with Michael Gibbs and an ensemble featuring the exceptional Toots Thielemans, in a lively and imaginative arrangement of West Indian steel drums.