Sub Pop Records and KEXP radio host Jon Kertzer have come together to form Next Ambiance, a world music imprint. Malian band Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba's "I Speak Fula" will be the first album out on Next Ambiance, and is scheduled for digital release on iTunes, December 1st, 2009 and for CD release on February 2nd, 2009. The band will embark on their first US tour, opening for nine-time Grammy winner Bela Fleck, in early 2010 in support of the record.

Founded by Jon Kertzer, the host of KEXP's "The Best Ambiance" radio show, a long-running weekly program that focuses on both pop and traditional music from the African continent, Next Ambiance continues the musical exploration, with an emphasis on mind-blowing and life-changing artists with no particular regional or cultural bias.

"I've listened and learned so much from Jon's show ("The Best Ambiance") for half of my life. It just seemed natural to put his knowledge, resources and remarkable taste to further use. It'll certainly be a boon to listeners everywhere," commented Sub Pop Records co-founder, Jonathan Poneman. "Our first release with Bassekou Kouyate and his incredible band Ngoni ba from Mali in West Africa, is the perfect way to begin this new adventure. Their album 'I Speak Fula' captures this truly original music, like nothing you have heard before."

Don't expect many releases from Sub Pop/Next Ambiance initially. After all, it's going to take a particularly brave artist or artists to follow Bassekou. Sub Pop/Next Ambiance will release "I Speak Fula" throughout North America, Australia and New Zealand.

"I am very excited to be working with Sub Pop on the Next Ambiance imprint to release the best of the world's music, innovative and ground-breaking sounds that follow new paths," stated Kertzer.

Malian Bassekou Kouyate made his international debut with the 2007 album Segu Blue. Released by Out Here Records, the album received critical acclaim and won the band the coveted honor of performing on the Jools Holland Show, as well as 2008 BBC 3 nomination for Best Newcomer, going on to win in both the Album of the Year category as well as Best African Act.

Their sophomore effort, "I Speak Fula," was released on September 21, 2009, in the UK and, unsurprisingly, received widespread critical acclaim. Known for their riveting live performances, "I Speak Fula" more effectively conveys the energy and infectious intensity of that experience than the band's first album. In October 2009 Bassekou once again performed on The Jools Holland Show alongside the likes of Yoko Ono and The Dead Weather.

Beginning in early February 2010, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba will share the bill with Bela Fleck for their inaugural tour through the United States.

2010 Tour Dates:

• 2/2 Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO
• 2/3 Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM
• 2/4 Aggie Theater, Fort Collins, CO
• 2/5 Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO
• 2/6 Avalon Theater, Grand Junction, CO
• 2/8 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO
• 2/10 Granada Theater, Dallas, TX
• 2/11 Lyric Theater, Oxford, MS
• 2/12 Murray State University, Murray, KY
• 2/13 Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
• 2/14 (T) Urbana, IL
• 2/16 House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
• 2/17 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• 2/18 Ohio University, Athens, OH
• 2/19 Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
• 2/20 Holland Performing Arts Center, Omaha, NE
• 2/21 Old Town School, Chicago, IL
• 2/22 Miami University, Hamilton, OH
• 2/24 Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
• 2/25 University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
• 2/26 Opera House, Waterville, ME
• 2/27 Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
• 3/1 Ottawa Jazz Festival. Ottawa, CAN
• 3/2 Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
• 3/3 Penn State University, State College, PA
• 3/4 Jefferson Center, Roanoke, VA
• 3/5 Weinberg Center, Frederick, MD
• 3/6 Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA
• 3/8 Plaza Theater, Orlando, FL
• 3/9 Sunrise Theater, Fort Pierce, FL
• 3/10 Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL
• 3/11 BAMA Theater, Tuscaloosa, AL
• 3/12 Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
• 3/14 Vancouver Olympics
• 3/15 Vancouver Olympics
• 3/16 Triple Door, Seattle, WA
• 3/20 Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
• 3/21 Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA
• 3/25 Philidelphia
• 3/26 Zankel Hall New York, NY
• 3/27 Somerville Theater Somerville, MA
• 3/28 The Strand, rockland, ME
• 3/30 Sanctuary for Independant Media VS Iheg, Troy, NY
• 3/31 Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
• 4/2 Savannah Music Festival with Bill Frisell Trio, Savannah, GA
• 4/3 Savannah Music Festival with Bill Frisell Trio, Savannah, GA
• 4/7 Outreach-Lee Theatre, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, St. Louis, MO
• 4/7 Lee Theatre, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center St. Louis, MO
• 4/8 Legion Arts Cedar Rapids, IA
• 4/9 Legion Arts VS Madison
• 4/10 The Cedar Minneapolis, MN
• 4/15 NMSU Music Recital Hall,Las Cruces, NM
• 4/16 Outpost Albuquerque, NM
• 4/17 Austin Reggae Festival vs Bulder H1, AUSTIN, TX
• 4/18 International Festival, Houston, TX
• 4/23 Festival International, Lafayette, LA
• 4/24 Festival International, Lafayette, LA
• 4/25 New Orleans Jazz Festival, New Orleans, LA

More dates to be announced.