United States: California: Oakland: Yoshi's Jazz Club

Jennifer
Oakland

Worth visiting!

Great headliners

I have been here a few times, and have seen some of my favorite shows of all time here (Joe Sample being one). The food at the restaurant is very good, if a little overpriced. The show space is great, because it is small, but it is also a little bit of a pain because it is so small. Seating here is first-come, first-served, but you are allowed to “tag” seats and hold them until show time. This means getting to Yoshi’s very early and standing in line for doors, entering, tagging your seats, and then going somewhere for dinner. The best seats are snagged within five minutes of doors, so get there early if you need a table for four, or want to be up close and personal to the performers.

Comments:

catattack
Oakland

I agree...

I love Yoshi’s. I don’t go a lot, as I tend to like crossover acts (those who stray into soft rock or who I recognize), rather than hard jazz, but I’m never disappointed in the venue. The acts are decently priced, and this kind of intimate venue is the ONLY way to see smaller acts with a gentle sound.

I’ve seen Bruce Hornsby there, Kenny Rankin, Manhattan Transfer, Diane Schurr, too many to mention.

Yes, you stand in line about 5:30, are let in at 6, tag your seats and then go to dinner. I never eat (any more) at Yoshi’s, as I’m not a sushi person and the meals are expensive there; plus, there are so many decent restaurants in the Jack London area, just a block away. You can also just stay at Yoshi’s and order appetizers and drinks while you wait for the act to start, and that sounds like a nice way to go.

I avoid the little wooden seats and tend to go for the booths, even if there are just two of us, as my back really aches if I sit in those chairs too long.


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