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] 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.

[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.