Honora [2 LP] [Etching Side] by Flea, Brand New AND Free Shipping

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Bassist and trumpeter Flea has been involved in dozens of projects outside the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Honora is his debut solo album. Since 1991 he's wanted to make "an instrumental record with deep hypnotic grooves, trippy melodies layered on top, meditations on a groove." At 60, he began preparation, practicing trumpet daily for two years. He also received musical mentoring from Rickey Washington, flutist, saxophonist, and father of saxophonist Kamasi Washington. Flea enlisted guitarist Jeff Parker and members of his ETA IV Quartet -- saxophonist/producer Josh Johnson and upright bassist Anna Butterss -- and drummer Deantoni Parks. Guests include Washington, Thom Yorke, Nick Cave, and others. Flea wrote six of these ten tunes. Following the brief opening instrumental "Golden Wingship," "A Plea" is a slippery jazz-funk tune by the quartet, with percussionist Mauro Refosco, trombonist Vikram Devasthal, and Washington on flute; the latter two deliver compelling solos as does Flea, who also contributes spoken word. Single "Traffic Lights" was co-written with Johnson and Thom Yorke -- who plays piano, synth, and sings. Guest Nathaniel Walcott's Fender Rhodes joins on this quirky exercise in lithe, soulful, 21st century jazz pop; Yorke's vocal never rises above a croon as the music travels texturally and dynamically. At nearly 11 minutes, "Frailed" is the set's longest jam; it's a labyrinthine journey into sonically adventurous, vanguard yet lyrical jazz. RHCP bandmate John Frusciante plays trumpet alongside Flea. Multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis (Bad Seeds) plays alto flute and viola. The noir-ish atmosphere and shimmering rhythmic backdrop allow for fine intuitive solo work from Flea's horn and Parker's guitar. "Morning Cry" is neo-bop with a tight, knotty head by Flea and Parker above Butterss and Parks, who add dimension and texture in their expansive, syncopated rhythmic attack. Flea's excellent trumpet solo is accompanied by pointillistic guitar. George Clinton and Eddie Hazel's "Maggot Brain" is next. Following the spoken word intro, flutist Derek Davis and trumpet carry the melody above Sasha Berliner's spacious vibraphone and Brian Walsh's clarinets. Flea's innate lyricism is consummate in transforming this into a jazz ballad. "Wichita Lineman" features Cave on vocals. He throws himself headlong into Jimmy Webb's lyric, as Parker, Butterss, Parks, and Refosco provide minimal instrumentation, even framing Flea's "flumpet" solo (it crosses a flugelhorn's warmth with the trumpet's agility) which offers elegance and grace. The gorgeous instrumental read of Frank Ocean's "Thinkin' About You" is helmed by the duo of Flea on horn and electric bass and Butterss on upright, accompanied by a string section arranged by Walcott. It's moving, measured, and nearly beatific. Ann Ronnell's classic "Willow Weep for Me," is lovely as an exercise in melodic, electro-jazz. Closer "Free as I Want to Be" finds Flea, Parker, Parks, and Johnson (on piano) accompanied by a ten-voice chorus in a multi-layered jazz-funk processional. Ultimately Honora is bold and beautifully played, with atmospheric production adorned in warmth, soul, and passion. ~ Thom Jurek