Sure, the Grammys Love Grunge, But They Also Dig the First-Ever Release From Sub Pop's World Music Imprint, Next Ambiance

 

​Though Seattle's '90s-era hitmakers Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains all picked up Grammy nods in last night's announcements (local list after the jump), Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba's I Speak Fula., the first release from Sub Pop's world music imprint, Next Ambiance, picked up a nomination in the Best Traditional World Music category. Sub Pop's Flight of the Conchords also picked up a nomination for Best Comedy Album.

<a href="http://www.myspace.com/bassekoukouyate">Mali's Bassekou Kouyate</a>  was the first artist signed to the imprint run by<a href="http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-03-10/music/no-cigar/">Seattle music impresario Jon Kertzer</a>  known to local radio listeners as the DJ for KEXP's world music show, Best Ambiance. The imprint is a longtime coming collaboration between Kertzer and Sub Pop chief Jonathan Poneman, who at one point <a href="http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-03-10/music/no-cigar/"> seriously considered putting out what turned out to be the world's best selling world music album of all time, the Buena Vista Social Club.</a>  The imprint's next release, Laru Beya, by Hondouras' Aurelio, drops on January 18.

 Grammy nominations with Seattle ties include:

Best Traditional World Music Album:
I Speak Fula
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
[Sub Pop / Next Ambiance]

Best Alternative Music Album

Infinite Arms
Band Of Horses
[Columbia Records/Brown/FatPossum]

Best Comedy Album
I Told You I Was Freaky
Flight Of The Conchords
[Sub Pop]

Best Rock Album

Backspacer
Pearl Jam
[Monkeywrench]

Best Hard Rock Performance

A Looking In View
Alice In Chains
[Virgin Records]

Black Rain
Soundgarden
Track from: Telephantasm
[A&M/UMe]