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.

Mali's Bassekou Kouyate was the first artist signed to the imprint run by Seattle music impresario Jon Kertzer, 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 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. 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]