It may be true that most of the World Music you’ve heard has been wafting out of some crystal shop filled with people ogling at mood rings and self-help books.  Even the ex-hippies will tell you, however, that World Music is all about the venue and the vibe, and this Friday at Connecticut College, you’ve got the chance to see some fantastic cross-cultural music without the heavy-scented candle setting.

Habib Koite is one of those musicians you might not have heard about because he’s been studying and playing with the best musicians around the world instead of spending his precious time creating an enormous public relations machine a la Britney Spears.  This isn’t to say the Mali native is a nobody.  His music is loved by a growing international fan base, and it’s increasingly respected and praised by music critics around the globe.