Flea’s jazz pivot
Flea released a new jazz album this week and collaborated with Nick Cave, Thom Yorke and contemporary jazz players — a late‑career return to trumpet after years of practice. (nytimes.com)
The record is titled Honora and is set for release on March 27, 2026 on Nonesuch Records. (nonesuch.com)) (nonesuch.com) Flea composed and arranged the music for Honora, plays both trumpet and bass across the 10‑track set, and worked with saxophonist-producer Josh Johnson, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Deantoni Parks. (nonesuch.com)) (nonesuch.com) (thelineofbestfit.com) Honora contains six original compositions and four interpretations, including covers of Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and the standard “Willow Weep for Me.” (nonesuch.com)) (nonesuch.com) (officialflea.bandcamp.com) The first two previews were “A Plea,” released December 2, 2025, and “Traffic Lights,” released January 14, 2026 — the latter was co‑written with Josh Johnson and Thom Yorke and features Yorke on vocals, piano and synths. (nonesuch.com)) (nonesuch.com) (en.wikipedia.org) Flea will support Honora with an intimate May 2026 tour billed as Flea & The Honora Band, beginning May 7 at Thalia Hall in Chicago and including stops in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam, London (KOKO) and a May 28 closing date in Paris. (thelineofbestfit.com)) (thelineofbestfit.com) (concertarchives.org)
