[ADVANCE WARNING: This is going to seem totally contrived, since Greg Kelley is on at least one of these lists and bhob rainey is on the other one. But even given my days of preparation for posting my imperious "2002 in the rear view" list, I *KNEW* I'd manage to forget someone. And I did! So here it is...] Don't know why it took me so long to catch on, but my MOST important "Belated Discovery" of the year was nmperign. I'm reasonably certain that my prior ignorance was due to thinking that their entire previous output was irrevocably out of print. But after hearing Greg's 'Trumpet' and 'Forlorn Green' and bhob's solo cut on one of Crouton Music's 'Folktales' releases and catching a live gig by Tatsuya Nakatani (with Tim Barnes) -- and JUST as I was ready to hit eBay -- I found the two nmperign CDs on Twisted Village *AND* the way-groovy collaboration with Jason Lescalleet (of 'Forlorn Green' and 'Mattresslessness' fame, you remember...) on Intransitive, just sitting there, kinda STARING at me, at Mondo Kim's one night after I'd had several drinks during an amazing set by Butch Morris (it's 11/19 on my "10 Live Events" list if you're really following all this). I've obviously sobered up since that night, so I can solemnly say to you, if you're reading this and you're AT ALL into avant-jazz, free improv and/or EAI, you just simply MUST know nmperign. As for me, I'll just grovel and beg forgiveness on February 6. Steve Smith ssmith36@sprynet.com NP - nmperign, i, '44'38"/5' (Twisted Village)