The Stanford Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble is performing their spring concert in San Francisco — exact venue and time to confirm via SFFuncheap listing, so check that before you commute anywhere. Admission is free or low-cost, which is consistent with their past performances. The ensemble is a student group out of Stanford with a serious roster; this isn't a background-music situation. Afro-Latin jazz means percussion-forward arrangements, brass, and a mix of Cuban, Brazilian, and West African influences — expect clave patterns and some improvisation alongside composed charts.

What makes this worth the trip is the caliber of student musicians Stanford pulls for this ensemble. Spring concerts typically feature new material developed over the semester alongside standards, and the group often invites guest musicians. If you've seen them before, this will be a different setlist.

Practical: Confirm the venue address before leaving — SFFuncheap listings sometimes go up before full details are locked. Bring cash if there's a suggested donation at the door. If it's at a campus-affiliated space, check for parking validation options; BART to the nearest stop and a rideshare leg is usually faster than hunting a spot.

If you only have two hours: Get there five minutes early to get a seat with sightlines to the percussion section — that's where most of the action is.