It’s that time of year, and given that the annual “Christmas-is-too-commercialised” debate is being thrashed out elsewhere, I thought I’d share some Christmas music that’s guaranteed not to be heard on high rotate in your neighbourhood Starbucks.

Lester Bowie – Almost Christmas
From All the Magic!: ECM 1246/47 [Buy]

The Goons – I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas
Available on The Goon Show Vol.3 [Buy]

It’s 1985. It’s a video documentary about zebras by Japanese photographer Tadayuki Naito. The soundtrack is performed by one of the great living drummers – Jack deJohnette – playing a SIEL DK600 synthesizer. The great living drummer calls in an old mate of his from Chicago to play on the recording, some trumpet player called Lester Bowie. They play together. The tapes roll and record it all.

Unique electro-afro-ambient thingummywhatsits. Fela Kuti meets Jean Michel Jarre.

Jack deJohnette – Ntoro I
Jack deJohnette – Jongo
From Zebra: MCA Records MCAD- 42160 [Buy]