Flea is a man of many talents, none of which need a proper introduction at this point in the artist’s career. The famed multi-instrumentalist has seen the pinnacle of success in music with Red Hot Chili Peppers, navigated side projects that allowed his more eccentric side to flourish, as if it was ever subdued, and performed on some of the biggest stages the world has to offer. His longevity in contemporary music is far from a mistake or a stroke of luck; Flea has been tirelessly dedicated to his craft and proved to have the ability to morph with the ebbs and flows of popular music, pushing past the antics of the Peppers and landing amongst some of the more celebrated and daring musicians of his generation and the next. All of this was achieved without so much as a hint of a solo career taking shape until 2026.
Honora, the official solo debut LP of Flea, is not about preserving his longevity. This is not an album from an artist grasping at a moment that has long fled, nor are these ten songs a forceful push to extend his career, and it is far from a simple glimpse into a new musical direction. Honora is an ode to Flea’s first love: Music of all shapes and sounds. This jazz album finds the rock-fusion mastermind in an exploratory, meditative state, piecing together a list of collaborators that form his soincally-amorphous Honora Band, and employing the freedom that comes with success to create something that is stubbornly in the present moment. Honora features covers and original compositions, all strung together by Flea’s blaring trumpet, acclaimed bass work, and a deep, unwavering love for the creative process and the act of sharing its results.
In the context of Flea’s musical output, Honora is a daring exploration of the artist’s passion for jazz music. From the bebop-inspired “Morning Cry,” with its wailing horns and complex percussion, to more modern electro-jazz highlights like the ambient “Willow Weep for Me,” Flea proves he has complete control of the genre while injecting his individuality into the nuances of these compositions. The musicianship throughout this tracklist is extraordinary and immersive, capturing a restless spirit and allowing it to settle throughout this gripping listen. Even in the extended pieces, like the nearly eleven-minute experiential orchestration “Frailed,” with its fuzzy drum hits and psychedelic undertones, or the urgent, political anthem “A Plea,” the listener is enthralled, waiting for the next note with palpable anticipation.
Despite this being Flea’s first solo outing and public jazz expression, the artist managed to find a tonality to call his own, a voice within the instruments he plays throughout Honora. Flea’s trumpet turns into an extension of his voice during the covers that are placed throughout his solo debut. You can hear Flea transform into a contemporary R&B legend with his cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” an intricate, blissful take on a modern classic. Earlier in the album, you can witness Flea nod to more obvious influences, like his vibrant, silk-lined take on the iconic fusion piece “Maggot Brain.” As these familiar melodies draw you in, it is the singularity that Flea brings to these songs that makes them such memorable moments on Honora.
Whether it’s a cover or an original, or if you’re a Chili fan or looking for a new jazz LP to dig into, Honora is about more than all of that combined. These ten songs find a veteran musician still hungry to conquer new terrain, yet never feeling the need to force an idea. Honora feels like an album Flea always had in the back of his head, a dream that slowly became a reality thanks to one man’s mission. Flea’s mission for Honora was simple: create something that feels both natural and impressive, something the listener can take with them throughout their day, and he achieved that, and more.
