Thurs. Nov. 20 

Call it a meeting of the minds, sonically. Mike Rivard's Club d'Elf - with its fluctuating cast of players - has been one of Boston's coolest avant jazz/electronic/world music/ whatever outfits for some time now. They can be tranquil, ferocious, groove-oriented and they truly are on a mission to explore music. On Thursday Nov. 20 at the Lizard Lounge Club d'Elf - bassist Rivard, turntablist Mister Rourke, drummer Dean Johnston and Rhodes keyboardist Paul Schultheis will be joined by Reeves Gabrels, the former Boston-based guitar ace who's done a ton of great work (over-the-edge wild and mainstream-ish) and is best-known playing in Tin Machine and collaborating with David Bowie. It should be a treat for music fans not bound by genre and open to improvisation. Starts at 10. Cover: $10.

1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-0759 www.lizardloungeclub.com

Says Rivard of the Reggatabar gig: "It's a different kind of room for us. (A jazz club.)  I was contacted by Rudder, they seemed compatible to what we do. I'd heard of all of the players and they're all well-respected and done some pretty high profile stuff. (Various players have worked with Bill Frissell and Steely Danm among many more) Guitarist Dave Tronzo is playing with us. The music is groove based with hip-hop but he pulls things in a more free jazz direction. He's played with Lounge Lizards and Daniel Lanois. He's an incredible player and he teaches at Berklee. A little more on the jazz tip. It's part of our efforts to convert recruits that Tronzo call "Jislamity" which combines Islam, Christianity and porn - that's tongue-in-cheek. There's always humor, especially from Mister Rourke, the court jester of the group. More than music, comedy is more an influence on what we do - setting up one expectation and knocking in down. A big inspiration that left-fieldness, coming from nowhere."