Flea : Honora

Flea(aka Michael Balzary) has been a permanent fixture in the world of alternative rock for over 40 years, ever since the Red Hot Chili Peppers dropped their self-titled debut album in 1984. Flea has always been a standout in the band, taking slap bass straight into punk rock aggressiveness. But as the years moved on his playing built up more finesse, and in interviews Flea waxed ecstatic about his love for jazz; in-particular Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis.

Before Flea got going with his prolific bass career, he started out on the trumpet. His dad was a jazz musician and was a huge influence on his jazz music adoration, but as a teen growing up drugs and getting in trouble were more appealing than becoming the next Miles or Dizzy Gillespie. The trumpet was put aside, and then came guitarist Hillel Slovak asking Flea to play bass in his high school band. The rest is history.

Still, Flea always had ambition to go back to the trumpet and learn it well so he could make a proper jazz album. Celebrating his 60th birthday, he decided it was now or never so he began playing the trumpet everyday for two years. He then assembled a band consisting of some of the best jazz musicians playing today, including Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson, Anna Butterss, and drummer Deantoni Parks. The results come through amazingly on Flea’s first jazz album, Honora. Along with the stellar band, Flea also got Thom Yorke and Nick Cave to contribute vocals. Honora is a stunning record, and one of the best of 2026.

Opener “Golden Wingship” is just a blur of sound and ambient textures that leads into the ultra-groovy and Beatnik-spirited “A Plea”. Jazz flute(no, not Ron Burgundy) floats above the mix in a sultry swirl as Flea shows off his trumpet chops to stunning affect. Flea’s spoken word comes across part late-50s Beatnik poet and the great Gil-Scott Heron before going into a punk rock chaos. “Traffic Lights” featuring Thom Yorke on vocals has a playful trumpet melody as Yorke sings in ghostly registers as percussion gives it all a slinky feel.

The first half is dominated by original pieces written by Flea(“Frailed” is 10 minutes of underscored groove and psychedelic swirls), while side 2 is an eclectic collection of covers. Flea and company turn the psychedelic funk of Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” into a calming musical trip, while Nick Cave adds new soulful dimensions to “Wichita Lineman”. Side two does end with one more original with “Free As I Want To Be”, a psychedelic jam that borrows from Jeff Parker’s fantastic ETA IVtet vibes to stunning affect.

Honora is a fantastic jazz record. But more than that it’s an example of the highest order of creativity and love of creating you’ll find this year. Flea is outstanding, as is everyone here.