Flea going jazz on his debut solo album, shares “A Plea”

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist and alt-rock legend Flea will release his first ever solo album next year via Nonesuch. While he’s known for bringing the funk, his first loves were the trumpet and jazz, and the album leans toward that while still representing his punk upbringing and everything else he’s done in the last 50 years.

Album details are still under wraps but he’s has released the first single, “A Plea.” It features Flea on trumpet, electric bass and vocals, with contributions from an all-star group of musicians including Anna Butterss, Deantoni Parks, Jeff Parker, Mauro Refosco, Rickey Washington, Vikram Devasthali, Chris Warren, and Josh Johnson.

Flea says the song is a “yearning for a place beyond, a place of love, for me to speak my mind and be myself. I’m always just trying to be myself. I don’t care about the act of politics. I think there is a much more transcendent place above it where there’s discourse to be had that can actually help humanity, and actually help us all to live harmoniously and productively in a way that’s healthy for the world. There’s a place where we meet, and it’s love.”

You can watch the video, directed by Flea’s daughter, Clara Balzary, below.