Sacramento State's renowned, vibrant Collegiate Jazz program is directed by Kerry Marsh, whose presence is large on 'Pale Blue Dot,' Marsh's four-part suite for Jazz ensemble, and a tribute to Carl Sagan, astronomer, author and advocate of science and reason. The album features several different configurations of student Jazz vocalists from 2007 to 2008, accompanied by a large Jazz Rhythm Section on all cuts. The first seven tunes, all arranged by Marsh, are covers of standards like Duke Ellington's 'In a Mellotone,' Freddie Hubbard's 'Little Sunflower,' Irving Caesar's 'Tea for Two,' and incongruously but beautifully, a soaring, bluenote arrangement of 'Silent Night.' The final cuts, the four parts of 'Pale Blue Dot,' are very strong, particularly Part III, 'When the Night is New'- spacy, delicate, moody and powerful.

Listen to But Beautiful in RealAudio.