Flea, the renowned bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has unveiled his inaugural solo jazz album, 'Honora', marking a significant departure from his rock roots. This project is a testament to his rekindled passion for the trumpet, an instrument he first learned in childhood. Through disciplined daily practice during RHCP's extensive two-year stadium tour and mentorship from jazz luminary Rickey Washington, Flea has crafted a mature and intricate collection of compositions. Collaborating with influential figures from the Los Angeles jazz community, 'Honora' transcends the typical solo venture, offering a deeply personal and artistically evolved statement that distinctly separates itself from his past musical endeavors.
The creation of 'Honora' was fueled by a personal commitment Flea made to himself as he approached his 60th birthday. He vowed to devote himself to mastering the trumpet, an instrument whose profound impact on him dates back to witnessing a jazz performance at the tender age of eight, an experience he describes with almost spiritual reverence in his memoir, 'Acid for the Children'. This lifelong fascination, paired with a relentless practice regimen, including countless hours of drills and noise complaints in various hotel rooms, culminated in an album that defies categorization. Unlike some contemporary artists who explore new genres with tentative curiosity, Flea’s venture into jazz is a homecoming, a deep dive into an intrinsic part of his artistic identity that has lain dormant.
The album distinguishes itself from projects born merely out of curiosity or celebrity status. While some might draw parallels to artists like André 3000's exploration of the flute, 'Honora' is less about humble awe and more about a confident assertion of Flea's multifaceted musical persona. It's a cohesive work, rich in compositional depth, driven by his sheer enthusiasm for each piece. While fans accustomed to the energetic basslines of the Red Hot Chili Peppers might find it unexpected, those who recognized Flea's unique melodic sensibility within the band will feel validated by this authentic jazz offering. 'Honora' is not just a jazz album; it is a profound artistic statement that only Flea could conceive and execute, a vibrant expression of his musical freedom and evolution.
Flea's distinctive melodic approach, often taken for granted within the Red Hot Chili Peppers' extensive discography, finds new expression on the trumpet. Echoes of Thelonious Monk can be heard in tracks like 'Morning Cry', where Flea's trumpet work, supported by Jeff Parker's guitar, navigates between tonality and atonality with a woozy precision reminiscent of Miles Davis's collaborations. His ability to weave controlled chaos into his performances, a hallmark of his bass playing, is now brilliantly translated to the trumpet, creating rich, textured soundscapes.
His profound admiration for Miles Davis is palpable throughout 'Honora', particularly in original compositions such as 'Traffic Lights' and 'Frailed'. These tracks conjure the same contemplative, almost suspended quality found in Davis's classic 'In a Silent Way'. Nathaniel Walcott's keyboard contributions in 'Frailed' evoke a timeless jazz aesthetic, while Warren Ellis's flute solo adds a layer of spiritual introspection. Conversely, 'Free As I Want to Be' bursts forth with a raw, distorted horn sound, channeling the assertive energy of Davis's 'On the Corner'.
The ensemble on 'Honora' features a stellar lineup from the Los Angeles jazz scene, including drummer Deantoni Parks, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and bassist Anna Butterss. Butterss, in particular, delivers an inspired performance, skillfully navigating the intricate basslines despite the pressure of playing alongside one of the world's most iconic bassists. Jeff Parker's guitar work seamlessly blends clean, ECM-esque precision with no-wave squalls, perfectly complementing Flea's dynamic improvisations. While some tracks, like the interpretation of Frank Ocean's 'Thinkin Bout You', might lean towards a more conventional approach, the album's undeniable highlight is Flea's powerful rendition of Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'. This performance, enriched by Johnson's arrangement for woodwinds and vibraphone, captures the original's emotional intensity while adding a layer of tragic nobility, drawing comparisons to Terence Blanchard's film scores.
Flea's journey with the trumpet has been a long and evolving one. Recalling a 1993 performance with Nirvana, where his cautious recreation of Kurt Cobain's guitar solo on trumpet highlighted his discomfort, a stark contrast to his current confidence is evident. Three decades and countless hours of practice later, 'Honora' showcases a Flea who is no longer just adapting but fully embracing the trumpet with a newfound liberation. On this album, he plays with an uninhibited spirit, demonstrating that he is truly free to care about nothing but the music itself.