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.

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