Album Review: Flea - "Honora"

Flea's first ever solo album fully embraces his love for jazz and for his first choice of instrument, being the trumpet. He's greeted by an all star lineup of jazz musicians and guests, including both covers and originals.

Nonesuch - 2026

Flea, one of the most iconic bassists and musicians over the past few decades, is returning to the instrument he loved first: the trumpet. Growing up listening to jazz music with his family and being idolized by famous trumpeters like Dizzy Gillespie, he decided to pick up the trumpet before switching to bass for bands like, most famously, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who he still is a part of. He's been wanting to release a solo album featuring his trumpet playing for years now and he's finally done so with Honora. Honora is named after his great-great-great grandmother and features a photo of his mother-in-law as the front cover. It's his first ever solo album and has Flea primarily playing trumpet and electric bass throughout the album. He's greeted by a ton of excellent jazz musicians who currently shine in their designated fields, from Tortoise's Jeff Parker on guitar to Anna Butterss on upright bass. There are also featured guests like his Atoms for Peace bandmate Thom Yorke (also of Radiohead) and Nick Cave. The record plays pretty smoothly and varies in style, from originals to covers from Frank Ocean, Glen Campbell, and Funkadelic, but they all flow together pretty nicely. There's a joy and play in experimentation throughout Honora, where Flea and his bandmates aren't just idly sitting still.

The album starts with a minute long intro of a brooding, intense buildup that build into "A Plea," the album's lead single. It features some lyrics recited by Flea over a skeletal instrumental that becomes more energetic and bombastic once the song continues. It's a grower at seven minutes in length and it remains one of the album's most impactful moments urging for peace and love for humanity, especially when Flea says lines like "everyone wants love" and "shine a light and shine it true." "Traffic Lights" is an infectious, groovy track that has Thom Yorke on lead vocals and Flea on bass, acting like what could be an Atoms for Peace or Thom Yorke B-side. "Frailed" is a ten-minute slow burner that have these whirring percussive electronics that act like a drone, lush piano, smooth horn and flute playing. It's worth your time experiencing this one from start to finish, especially when the viola kicks in. "Morning Cry" is a quick, rudimentary and fun tune that showcases his trumpet skills, albeit maybe not the most memorable song of the bunch.

His cover of Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain" is notably more sparse and patient with its use of slow building percussion. "Wichita Lineman," originally made famous by Glen Campbell, now has Nick Cave singing over a beautifully graceful jazz instrumental. It's a perfect fit. Frank Ocean's acclaimed "Thinkin Bout You" is covered in all its glory with a lush, beautiful orchestral string section and some of Flea's best trumpet playing on the entire album. It's my favorite track, hands down and Flea couldn't have covered it better. A cover of Ann Ronell's "Willow Weep for Me" is a strange, spacey instrumental that's both playful and eerie. The album closes with "Free as I Want to Be," which is heavy, killer groove driven tune with vocal chants and excellent guitar playing from Parker. Honora plays a little all over the place, considering the majority of the covers are back to back towards the album's final third. Regardless of this, it's still a thoughtful sounding, cohesive record full of great performances and experimentations. It was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026 and it certainly doesn't disappoint. Even if Flea isn't the most well know for the genre of jazz or even the trumpet, don't let that fool you. Honora is worth all of your attention.

My Rating: 8 / 10

Favorite Songs: "Thinkin Bout You," "A Plea," "Traffic Lights," "Free as I Want to Be," "Wichita Lineman"