Percussionist Munyungo Jackson (L) sitting in with Jungle Fire at Thursday night’s Live After Five: Neo-Soulstice show. Photos by Matt Cohn.
Last Thursday night, the chandeliers in the 90-year-old Breakers building on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach vibrated to the energy generated by some funky, jazzy bands, passionate spoken-word artists and a crowd that came to groove.
Neo-Soulstice, presented by the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) and co-curated by Tokotah Skye Ashcraft and Menchie Caliboso, was the latest event in the DLBA’s ongoing Live After Five free music series.
Local spoken-word artists Shy But Flyy, The Loneliest Casanova, Jragonfly Jon, Nerd, and Micah Bournes stepped to the mic in one room on the first floor of the Breakers, and music during the breaks was provided by vinyl-spinning DJ Eusebio Akasa.
In another room, Long Beach’s Bootleg Orchestra (with Menchie Caliboso on guitar) and L.A.-based groups The Black Noise, Katalyst, Jungle Fire and a band fronted by Inglewood’s superb vocalist Tiffany Gouche performed, interspersed with DJ work from NiceGuyxVinnie.
Neo-Soulstice co-curators Menchie Caliboso (L) and Tokotah Skye Ashcraft (R).
“We always have a lot of local support, and then we like to have an L.A.-based act that’s going to bring people down the 710 freeway,” said Tokotah Skye Ashcraft. “Their crowd is going to get introduced to our crowd. I’ve never brought an L.A. artist to Long Beach who didn’t want to come back right away. They love the vibe and they love the people here. We have a lot of heart.”
The term “neo-soul,” coined in the ’90s, refers to a genre-bending hybrid of jazz, funk, soul, rhythm and blues and hip-hop sensibilities (See Tiffany Gouche’s video: It contains many signature “neo-soul” elements). On Thursday night, Menchie Caliboso defined neo-soul as “a state of mind coming from a good place in humanity, that builds on what came before.”
A satisfying array of musical influences could be heard at Neo-Soulstice, from the deep, jazz-infused groove of Katalyst to the afrobeat/salsa/cumbia/’70s funk pocket of the 10-piece band Jungle Fire.
The L.A. musicians on the scene Thursday night raved about Long Beach.
“Long Beach is amazing,” said Katalyst trumpeter Emile Martinez. “I always want to play here. Every time I play here I always get such a positive response from the crowd.”
Munyungo Jackson, a veteran percussionist whose lengthy resume includes work with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and a credit on Willie Hutch’s 1974 Foxy Brown movie soundtrack, was stoked on the Breakers crowd as well.
“It’s incredible,” said Jackson after sitting in on a high-energy set by Jungle Fire (who will be performing at Alex’s Bar on April 16). “I had no idea it would be like this.”
The Breakers is one of over 60 venues—including art galleries, parking structures and vacant storefronts—that the DLBA has activated for the Live After Five series.
“Live After Five is building every month,” said the DLBA’s marketing and special events manager Gina Dartt at the show Thursday night. “Presenting downtown with free live music is something we believe very strongly in.”
Above, left: DJ Eusebio Akasa.
This report was updated on 03/15/16 at 9:36AM with the correct date of the Jungle Fire’s performance at Alex’s bar.