Flea
So… Flea put out a jazz album.
Yes, that Flea. From the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I had to double-check too; I thought that surely there wasn’t any way. But here it is.
Even putting my opinions about the Chili Peppers aside (the only group I find more insufferable are the Beastie Boys), I decided I didn’t want anything to do with the album, because Flea is not a jazz player. The pivot seemed disingenuous, and I wasn’t going to bite.
Later, I happened upon this article from JazzTimes in defense of this album. This line in particular got me:
For my part, I think it’s brave for Flea to play [the trumpet], on live TV no less, absolutely knowing that jazz heads will crap on it. Because he felt a desire, a need, to express something there.
Damn. I mean, I assume Flea has enough cred built up that he doesn’t really have to give a rat’s ass what the jazz community says about his work, but still.
Unsurprisingly, the album has a really solid bassline.