Rockin’ with Arrested Development at the 14th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival
Summer is in full swing. You don’t have to travel far to feel the heat. From a musical standpoint, this is also the season for outdoor music festivals. The Uptown Jazz Festival is a highly anticipated event of the summer. People started arriving before 6:00 AM to secure a coveted spot in the park for family, friends, and neighbors.
By Ricky Richardson | Contributing Writer
(Long Beach, CA) Summer is in full swing. You don’t have to travel far to feel the heat. From a musical standpoint, this is also the season for outdoor music festivals. The Uptown Jazz Festival is a highly anticipated event of the summer. People started arriving before 6:00 AM to secure a coveted spot in the park for family, friends, and neighbors.
The city of Long Beach and the Ninth District Councilwoman Joni Ricks-Oddie’s office presented the 14th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival, Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 2:00 PM-7:00 PM, at Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Avenue. I can testify that each year, officials keep raising the bar for the Uptown Jazz Festival. The final attendance numbers will paint a better picture of the popularity of this gem to the community and for visitors alike.
Thousands of guests showed up on this beautiful day in the LBC to groove! Guests from all walks of life felt a sense of joy, found a connection, and a community amongst other music lovers upon entering the park.
The spacious, tree-lined Houghton Park lawn was decorated with a mosaic of colorful blankets, beach towels, lawn chairs, and canopies.
The free, family-friendly festival featured live music, a variety of sumptuous food cuisines, an engaging, interactive Kids’ zone, and community resource booths.
DJ Mr. Quick (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
Grown folks, aka party people, already know the drill. Whenever DJ Mr. Quick is in the mix on the ones and twos, the festivities are going to be highly charged with an eclectic soundtrack that ensures that there isn’t going to be any parking on the dance floor. People were also assured a nice workout while grooving to the beats laid out by DJ Mr. Quick. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the boots on the ground were constantly in motion, thanks to DJ Mr. Quick.
Boots on the Ground/Dance Floor, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
The temperatures in the park started to heat up earlier than usual. Fausto Cuevas y La Moderna served up a set of hot Latin jazz rhythms. It didn’t take long before the crowd was brought out of their seats to the dance floor throughout their lively set. The crowd moved to the following selections: “Un Gran Dia en El Barrio,” “Malagueña,” Rompe Saraqüey,” and “Ella Está en Otra Rumba,” to name a few.
The afternoon continued to be great as the day progressed. Raquel Rodriquez entertained the attentive crowd with her dynamic, soulful vocals on her original selections of soul, funk, and R&B tracks. Raquel Rodríguez had the crowd vibing with her throughout her set. Raquel performed “Housewife,” “Mile High,” “Back to Me,” “Greens,” and “Last Night.”
It ain’t nothing but a party, Y’ALL! The proof is in the performance of Grammy Award-nominated vocal group DW3. DW3 is a Southern California premier harmonious group known for their blend of R&B, soul, and old-school funk. These are the right ingredients for a successful party. It’s a true testimonial of how great DW3 is when you consider that they have been serenading the Uptown Jazz Festival guests for the past 14 years. DW3 revved up and funk up the festivities by taking the crowd on an unforgettable trip down memory lane with some classic selections “On the Floor,” “California Dreamin,” “Never Too Much,” “Before I Let You Go,” and an extended remix of “Do I Do” by Stevie Wonder. The party tracks continued with “This is How We Do It” and “Mary Jane,” to name a few.
Arrested Development, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)
What a way to close out the 14th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival with an electrifying set by Arrested Development. Grammy Award-winning group Arrested Development didn’t disappoint as they delivered on their legacy of uplifting, conscious hip-hop to the delight of all in attendance. Arrested Development has inspired generations through music rooted in soul and storytelling. Arrested Development is currently touring in support of its latest EP entitled Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop. The EP is on rotation on radio stations with a lot of global airplay.
