We’ve each already had our say, individually. Said our piece. Then came time to meet over the remnants of the egg nog and hammer out a consensus — before we go over the disc-al cliff into 2013.

If you don’t know anything else about the Montreal-born flautist Sylvain LeRoux and his music, just two things are instructive: he has a passion for Thelonious Monk and a passion for West African music.

Anthony Phillips has taken a series of interesting paths since leaving Genesis after the legendary prog-rock group’s eclectic first two albums.

Frontman is a first-time book from the Bongos’ leader and (well, what else?) frontman Richard Barone, part rock star guide, part autobiography — and a completely entertaining and fascinating read.