Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ bassist goes back to his roots.
Michael Balzary began his musical journey as a boy, becoming fascinated with jazz artists like Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Through their inspiration, he studied the trumpet and became a young jazz musician. Young Michael wasn’t interested in rock music until meeting fellow Chilli Peppers, Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak. Thus began his transformation into the bass-slapping Flea we’ve all come to know. While Flea’s love of jazz and the trumpet took a backseat to RHCP, his first solo album has put all his loves on record.
Honora was released on March 27th and features six original songs plus four more widespread covers. Helping out on vocals are Thom Yorke on Traffic Lights and Nick Cave with a cover of Jimmy Webb’s classic Wichita Lineman. Flea’s Honora band is comprised of drummer Deantoni Parks, upright and electric bassist Anna Butterss, Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker, and keyboardist and saxophonist Josh Johnson. On the short Honora spring tour, this band accompanied Flea’s bass and trumpet. Dates continue in North America in NYC, DC, before heading to Europe. All info can be found here.
Aron Harris
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