Quinto Sol takes power reggae to Salinas and Casa Sorrento.

Quinto Sol’s many members construct potent Latino soul-infused reggae that jams with the multicultural awareness of Ozomatli. The group drops messages of positivity to upstage Michael Franti. Those are significant accomplishments, but they grow out of a humble drive: making sure its East L.A. community gets the love it deserves.

“We’re still out there playing the projects, the local parks, local community centers, mostly without pay,” bassist Martin Perez says. “That’s what’s kept us alive in our surroundings and we are an element and a seed that was planted in this community, so we continue to give back to this day.”

Quinto Sol is also active in helping local organizations like Academia Semillas del Pueblo, an East L.A. public charter school led by indigenous Mexican educators and the first International Baccalaureate World School to be authorized in Los Angeles.

That’s been the m.o. since Quinto Sol was born more than 21 years ago.

“[East L.A.] is rooted in our Latino culture,” Perez says. “It’s a positive thing in the community and a lot of people are embracing the urban lifestyle, which is not so easy to do with all the gentrification, the corruption and the police brutality.”

Quinto call its work politically conscious music of the streets. Its third record, Spirits of the Martyrs, pays “tribute to all the heroes that fought and died for land, love, peace and dignity.”

The album pays homage to figures like Pancho Villa and others who fought for the land and dignity of Mexico and the rest of Latin America. One standout, the upstroke bootie-shaker “Controlados,” empowers youth to question what they’re taught in school.

This summer, the outfit has been touring throughout Southern and Baja California and recently performed at Parque Morelos in Tijuana as the backing band for reggae great Pato Banton.

In addition to a forthcoming record – which Perez describes as “a new vibe, a new beginning” – soon Quinto hopes to release Chinco Soul and Friends, which it’s been working on with a plethora of musicians for 12 years now.

Music fans descending for the show Friday in Salinas will get Quinto’s versatile world-influenced wave of cumbia, rumba, Caribbean and Afro-beat.

“Our shows are never the same,” Perez says. “If we feel like freestyling during a show, we freestyle the hell out of the show. There’s also improvisation when needed.” And always love for East L.A.

QUINTO SOL, STRANGER, SKUNKDUB, HERITAGE and DJ MOI 9pm Friday, Aug. 8, at Casa Sorrento, 393 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. 757-2720.