Flea’s debut album, Honora (2026)
Photo courtesy of Leon Wilson/Wikimedia Commons
The artist Flea is best known for being a part of the band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Just this year, his first solo album debuted, surprisingly with a focus on jazz instead of rock.
The renowned bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea, has stepped into a new spotlight with the release of his debut solo album Honora (2026). The jazz album is a departure from his usual funk and rock style associated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The record has ten tracks, four of which are covers that span a variety of genres, including a Frank Ocean song. The idea for a solo jazz effort became a serious consideration during the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ massive tour following their double-album release in 2022. Before that, in an interview with NPR, Flea mentions having toyed with the possibility, but never found the time. For Honora (2026), Flea challenged himself to practice non-stop for two years and release a record regardless of his progress.
The album features a mix of faces, mainly from the LA jazz scene. The producer, Josh Johnson, is largely to thank for gathering this group of talent. Flea told NPR that “I would’ve been, you know, kinda stricter about it. Left to my own devices I would’ve made a really weird free jazz record.” Keeping friendly company also helped Flea avoid his fear of being framed as a charlatan.
As the driving force of the record, Flea cites the importance of jazz to his life in the same NPR interview, claiming that “It’s me coming back to…that really serious study of that music and wanting to reach a place that gave so much to me and has continued to give so much to me through my life.”
Flea takes the chance to show off some free jazz in “Frailed,” the longest track on the album with some of the most direct displays of his trumpet influences, namely Miles Davis.
However, as far as Flea’s trumpet ability goes, the reception has been mixed. Some are critical of his lack of “chops” or refinement. Pitchfork claims “he sounds too free to care.” These are not entirely unfounded comments—a lot of Flea’s intention with Honora (2026) lies in the enjoyment and appreciation of jazz that has stuck with him throughout his life, not his trumpet skills.
Another controversial aspect of the record is the message. Vice says that “people are looking for calls to action” with the current climate of the world. Tracks like “A Plea” are super fun and showcase Flea’s sense of groove, but the message that love is all that matters feels a bit out of touch given the tension in the world right now, especially in the U.S.
Regardless, the record delivers a neat mix of sounds, especially notable with the choice of covers. Once again, Flea demonstrates how the album was framed by his appreciation for music. For “Thinkin Bout You,” the Frank Ocean cover, Flea says on the NPR interview “it’s a great song…When Channel Orange came out…it really blew me away.”
Overall, the record contains a mix of calmer songs and faster bop-style songs. His take on “Maggot Brain” is a pleasant psychedelic serenade, showing off some of his textural skills on the trumpet. On the other hand, “Morning Cry” is a higher energy track, showing off more of the faster paced jazz in the style of other jazz legends like Thelonious Monk.
Flea’s first foray into jazz and solo work accomplishes exactly what Flea set out to do: have fun and make some jazz. Honora (2026) shows potential for Flea to grow as a solo artist, and on its own is a fun listen full of creative energy and an artist who enjoys his craft.