Bob Schlesinger: Falling From Earth

Many a music project was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Colorado-based pianist, composer, and educator Bob Schlesinger's Falling From Earth (Self-Produced, 2025) has had a longer gestation and more interesting rebirth than most. With funding from the Pathways to Jazz fund, part of the Boulder County Arts Alliance, Schelsinger initially planned for his first release as a leader to be a trio album with legendary Bill Evans bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Billy Drummond, whose expansive career with many of jazz's greatest artists encompasses an astonishing 350 recordings, including his own New York Times Best Jazz Album of the year, Dubai (Criss Cross, 1995). Feeling some tunes needed a second solo voice, Schlesinger brought in another heavy friend, perennial poll winner, frequent Grammy nominee, and former Miles Davis band member Mike Stern on guitar. Seven tunes, three by Schelsinger, two by Stern, one by Thad Jones, and one by Bob Dylan, were recorded at NYC's Sear Sound by the quartet in 2018. Since then, four more tunes were added to the tracklist: two recorded in Boulder with Stern, electric bassist Kevin Axt, and Dean Oldencott or Karl Latham on drums; and two more pieced together and remixed from studio jams, with Steve Hass on drums. As convoluted as its path to release was, Falling From Earth (available on streaming platforms and as a double LP, a CD, or a digital download) feels cohesive, with the pianist's sensitive playing and Stern's unmistakable tone and jazz fusion chops at the fore of every track.

"Easy Offramp" opens the album with 13 exciting minutes culled from a studio jam, beginning with overlaid atmospherics, before a tricky boppish piano-guitar theme emerges atop Hass' funky beat. The edited track moves through swinging sections, multiple solos from Stern and the leader, and a variety of reorienting unison runs that seem to 'reset' the music for its next foray. It is a daringly abstract start to the record. The guitarist contributes a pair of beguiling ballads, including the hymn-like "Wing and a Prayer" and "Common Ground," on which his beautiful solo, and that of Schlesinger, is admirably supported by Gomez's woody bass. Stern's third tune is the rocking "Bait Tone Blues," also edited from studio jams, on which Schlesinger moves to the Hammond B3 organ while the guitarist engages in some welcome fusion shredding. Schlesinger's tunes include "Left Field," a slow, funky number featuring his Fender Rhodes and some delightfully, well, left-field note choices by Gomez; "Brush Stroke," a groove-heavy number with superb playing by Oldencott; the gorgeous trio ballad "Quién Es" featuring a nimble Gomez bass solo; and "But What Do You Want To Play," a boppish line based on the changes to "I Love You" by Cole Porter, given a fusion flavor by Stern's guitar. Schlesinger's take on the Dylan tune has shades of Keith Jarrett, with an almost classical introduction followed by a move to gospel feeling.

Better late than never, then, for the 67-year-old Schlesinger, whose debut full-length as a leader finally sees the light of day after a five-year delay. With friends as talented as Drummond, Gomez, Stern, and the others, it is no surprise that the talented pianist has created something special on Falling From Earth, a nicely varied and very enjoyable album.