Three of the album's tracks feature guitarist Jerry Garcia, whose involvement with the recording can be traced back to September 1987, when Coleman, his son Denardo, and Cecil Taylor, attended a Grateful Dead concert.[1] Following the concert, Coleman invited Garcia to the recording session for Virgin Beauty.[1] In February 1993, Prime Time opened for the Dead at a show in Oakland, and Coleman participated in the Dead's "space jam" portion of the concert.[1]
Virgin Beauty reached the number two position on Billboard's jazz chart and sold more in its first year of release than any previous Coleman record.[7]
In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow noted that "the music is frequently exciting, but will take several listens to absorb. Worth investigating".[2]
David Fricke of Rolling Stone commented: "More than a few Deadheads invested in Virgin Beauty solely because of Jerry Garcia's presence on three tracks. But it's a safe bet they were pleasantly surprised by Prime Time's infectious propulsion and the emotive strength and striking warmth of Coleman's sax statements."[7]
Author Michael Stephans remarked: "Virgin Beauty is filled with many bright moments, a vibrant spirit, and an almost irrepressible earthiness. It is one of a number of good starting points for the new listener who wants to know more about Ornette's Prime Time and its musical evolution, with the added bonus of choosing any number of tracks and dancing to them!"[8]
