Sorry, by "free jazz" I don’t mean "jazz for free," but avant-garde, outside, experimental, free improvisation - whatever jazz musicians call it, when they call it anything. Although free jazz is usually more affordable than other types. Typical cover: $5, sometimes stretching to $10. And sometimes nada.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me where to find free jazz in the Twin Cities. I thought, if he wants to know, maybe others do, too. Here’s what I was able to learn, in egalitarian alpha order. Please tell me if I missed something.

Two free jazz events are happening tonight (Monday, March 9): Fat Kid Wednesdays at the Clown Lounge and Improvised Music at Homewood Studios. (More details below.)

Art of This Gallery in South Minneapolis (a.k.a. AOT) has an Improvised Music series that runs on occasional Tuesdays from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Art of This, 3506 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-721-4105.

Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar in St. Paul’s Lowertown has a Fantastic Fridays series curated by Nathan Hanson of the Fantastic Merlins. The Black Dog also has close ties with the Minnesota Sur Seine music festival and its world musicians. Music starts around 8 p.m. Black Dog, corner of Fourth and Broadway, Lowertown, St. Paul; 651-228-9274.

Café Maude in southwest Minneapolis has interesting and often cutting-edge music on Friday and Saturday nights. Rotating through its schedule are area favorites including Bryan Nichols, Chris Thomson, Dean Granros, and Tim Glenn; I’ve heard Dave King and Dosh play there. The music starts at 9 p.m. Café Maude, 5411 Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-5411.

The Clown Lounge in the basement of the Turf Club on University Avenue in St. Paul features jazz on Mondays. The awesome Fat Kid Wednesdays (Michael Lewis on saxophones, Adam Linz on bass, J.T. Bates on drums) is the house band but others show up. Things get going at the Clown around 10:30 p.m. Turf Club, 1601 W. University Ave., St. Paul; 651-647-0486.

Homewood Studios in North Minneapolis has an Improvised Music series twice each month on a Monday, curated by multi-instrumentalist/composer/ Milo Fine. This can be pretty far-out stuff, but if you’re willing to give it a try it can also be deeply rewarding. Tubist Stefan Kac has told me that this is his favorite gig. The music starts around 7 p.m. Homewood Studios, 2400 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-587-0230.

Rogue Buddha Gallery in northeast Minneapolis has a monthly (every third Thursday) series called "iQuit: Experimental Music Happenings." I have heard exceptional music there, most recently visiting percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani. Sets start at 8 or 9 p.m. Rogue Buddha, 357 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis; 612-331-3889.

West Bank School of Music in Cedar-Riverside hosts the Milo Fine Free Jazz Ensemble on the first Friday of every other month. Founded in 1969, rooted in self-determination, the Free Jazz Ensemble is a Twin Cities institution. 8 p.m. West Bank School of Music, 1813 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis; 612-333-6651.

Finally (or not; you tell me): The Artists’ Quarter draws happy crowds to Happy Apple once or twice a year. From time to time, The Cedar blends jazz into its diverse musical mix; I’ve seen Fat Kid Wednesdays, Happy Apple and George Cartwright there. In April they’re doing the CD release for The Bad Plus’s latest, "For All I Care." Scour the calendar. The Late Night at the Dakota series features occasional improvised/circuit-bending/mad-scientist shows. Fridays and Saturdays; check the calendar.