If you're crossing the bay, BART to 19th Street Oakland is your move for most East Bay music venues — confirm the specific room before you go, because parking in downtown Oakland on a weekend evening varies wildly by block. Arrive a few minutes early if seating is general admission, which it typically is for club-style jazz nights. No opener is confirmed at time of writing, so factor in a tight start.

With two hours: get there at door, grab a seat with sightlines to the piano, and stay through the first set. Santos Neto's sets tend to build — the second half is usually where it opens up.