Your biggest discovery of the year!

Of this years finds I've probably played these three the most:

1. Kayo Dot (gave them a second chance, and it clicked with their their latest album. Love all three releases by now)
2. Alice Coltrane (Flawless discography)
3. Don Cherry (Solo, with Codona, Old And New Dreams and as a sideman for Orentte Coleman) 

Among many interesting finds in this field, two avantgarde composers sticks out:

Giacinto Scelsi (forgotten genious)
Kaija Saariaho (still alive)

And...

Elephant9 (Dodovoodoo is the debutalbum of the year! They're even better live)
Nico Fidenco (Black Emanuelle soundracks are all stunning)
Mal Waldron (jazzpianist who peaked in his forties)
Dr. John (Mostly for for Gris-Gris)
Aranis (always nice with new belgian chamberprog)

Known about these six bands/artists for years even had an album or two by some of them (obviously the wrong ones)

Jan Garbarek (fantastic up to 73, dead boring after)
Terje Rypdal (68-75 especially)
Oregon (Even better when they are backing sitarmaestro Vasant Rai)
Wayne Shorter (especially 69-70)
Weather Report (the early Miroslav Vitous years)
John Zorn (not so much for the progrelated stuff)

Finally the greatest guitarist ever: Sonny Sharrock! (but maybe that was last year)

^^

YES, Crosby's "If Only I Could Remember" is an absolute classic of California hippie rock.  Lot's of Dead and Airplane guests and a real communal vibe.  Interesting songs too.  Might be the best work her ever did. 

I think I made bigger discoveries last year, but for this year, chronologically:
Gongzilla, Various Albums
Alitheia, Cthonic
The Observatory, A Far Cry From Here
Supertramp, Crime of the Century
Jonas Hellborg, Art Metal
Public Image Ltd., Compact Disc
Dweezil Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa
Head Machine, Orgasm
a rediscovery - Rupert Hine, Immunity and The Wildest Wish To Fly
a fairly new Pierre Moerlen's Gong album, Pentanine
an old progressive Santanna album I wasn't aware of, Borboletta
last and not least with a few days yet left to go for the year - Crimson Jazz Trio

Frank Zappa. When I first delved into prog in 1994 I bought Hot Rats and Zoot Allures because Jobson was on the front cover. Finally, this year I tried One Size Fits All and the rest is history. Roxy and Elsewhere is my favorite live album EVER....

Well, the current year for me was - less discoveries, more going more deep into artists I have already discovered. meanwhile, I'll mention one artist that I discovered through PA - Jose Luis Fernandez Ledesma. Great recommandation, thanks all mexican mates here!  , I steel didnt got enough time for getting into his stuff, but its one of my first projects to the next year! I have already own 2 CD's. and his Myspace is great.

Jeff Buckley
João Gilberto
Midlake
Bon Iver
Quasimoto
Flora Purim
Deep Turtle
Emma Myldenberger
Blonde Redhead
Yann Tiersen
Clint Mansell

CAN, no doubt about it.

My biggest discoveries for the year of 2008:

1.Premiata Forneria Marconi.(it's already one of my favourite bands).
2.Banco del Mutuo Soccorso.
3.Camel.
4.Peter Gabriel.(solo years).

From my list you can feel, that I am quite newbie this year in prog music!!!

IQ.

I don't know how I've missed them for 25 years, but now I find it hard to listen to Genesis and many other bands I've loved for so long.

anoah wrote: IDIOT FLESH (Nothing Show) - Another unlikely choice, but it was captivating, (and it barely qualifies as music).

You think the album was captivating? About the time you were born I caught them several times playing at 120 person night clubs. Imagine the theatrics of Genesis, only pure evil. And oh yes, it is definitely music.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/idiot-flesh-twitch-long-beach-1996/377055432


Anyway, the topic at hand, my discoveries this year have been many.

Shub-Niggurath
Eskaton
Crucis
Baccamarte
Weidorje
Virus
Anti-Depressive Delivery
Present
Art Zoyd