By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer
Long Beach, CA- The City of Long Beach and Office of Ninth District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie presented the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival. The celebration was held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 2- 7 PM at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach, 90805).
“For 15 years, the Uptown Jazz Festival has showcased the very best of Long Beach, bringing together neighbors, families and visitors through the universal language of music,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement. “As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re excited to welcome an outstanding lineup of artists for an afternoon that reflects the culture, creativity and community spirit that makes our city so special.”
A large crowd of music aficionados, foodies and concertgoers arrived early to secure a prime spot for this year’s milestone iteration of the festival.
Houghton Park lawn served as the perfect canvas for the colorful array of blankets, beach towels, and lawn chairs. Parasols and umbrellas came in handy due to the tropical heatwave the region is experiencing. Yes, fans served a dual purpose: to aid in cooling oneself and as a prop for the popular track “Boots on the Ground.”
It should have been apparent that the party people, aka grown folks, were in for a festive treat. DJ Mr. Quick (DaShaun E. Quick) played an eclectic soundtrack in between live performances that kept the energy on the dance floor at a high level.
This popular annual free, family-friendly festival featured a tasty selection of food vendors and beverages for purchase. Vendors sold a variety of clothing, jewelry, hats, and accessories. Local community organizations and a couple of Departments from the LBC provided information and other resources. The little ones were engaged and entertained in the dedicated kids’ zone.
The city went all out to present a stellar lineup for the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival. The festival got underway with a set by La Verdad. The tropical heat accelerated up a notch throughout their fiery set. The ensemble is led by Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Gabriel “Gabrielito” Gonzalez. Salseros quickly utilize the dance floor at the sound of the first note. La Verdad set the tone for the day with their captivating set of salsa, boogaloo, cha-cha, and Latin funk, to the delight of the dancers. Their set featured the tracks “Ahi Nama,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” a Willie Bobo Medley, “I Don’t Know,” “Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries,” and “Guajira.” They concluded their set with “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” a Salsa/Latin jazz arrangement by the Boogaloo Assassins. The original version is by Dawn Penn, a classic reggae and dancehall staple. Check out both versions on YouTube. You can catch LA Verdad performing at Vibrato Grill, on August 21, 2026, and around town throughout the summer.
Ain’t no party like a Biscuits and Gravy Live party! I’ve lost track of the number of times they have performed at the Uptown Jazz Festival. Their return engagement is a testament to their patented crowd-pleasing performances. The party people, aka grown folks, were groovin’ and moving throughout their energetic set of classic old school funk, R&B, and soul. Their opening and closing tracks could serve as an Anthem for this year’s Uptown Jazz Festival. They opened their set with “Funky Good Time” by James Brown and concluded their set with “Funky Good Stuff” by Kool and the Gang. They continued to entertain the crowd with “We Want the Funk” by George Clinton and “Dream Maker” by Rick James, “Wildflower” by Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, followed by “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan. Biscuits and Gravy Live have a couple of upcoming gigs if you can’t get enough of that funky stuff, and you want to have a funky good time. They will be serving up a generous portion of funk, R&B and soul during the Jazz on the Grass in Compton, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, and at Jazz at Drew, Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Who would have guessed that attendees would experience a Sig Alert! in Houghton Park. This Sig Alert was of a musical nature. Rush Hour Orquesta is a high-octane Los Angeles Salsa band founded by Raul Membrano and Jonathan Patterson. The party people returned to the Caribbean for another dance-inducing performance of classic Salsa Dura with a modern edge. The stage was percolating with explosive percussion, vibrant brass, and infectious grooves. Needless to say, there was No Parking on the Dance Floor. I’m looking forward to seeing this tight band at other summer concert series that feature salsa and Latin jazz. Rush Hour Orquesta will be heating up the festivities during the San Jose Summer Fest, Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Pandemonium coupled with a crowd frenzy atmosphere was the order of the day during the headlining set by Morris Day & The Time. This popular band from back in the day kept the party people, aka grown folks, on their feet and the dance floor with a classic medley of their biggest hits (not in this particular order). “Cool,” ‘Girl,” “Get It Up,” “777-9311,” “Jungle Love,” “Wild and Loose,” “Gigolos Get Lonely Too,” “Fishnet,” and “What Time Is It?” to name a few. The 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival concluded on a good note. You can follow Morris Day & The Time on Facebook or Instagram to find out about future performances. You might be lucky to catch them live during your travels for business or leisure in the few months.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the 15th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival is one for the history and record books. It’s my educated observation that this year’s festival might have broken an attendance record, or it came very close to the attendance for past iterations of the festival. You can view photos and videos on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to see what a great time was had by all!!!