Malian minstrel comes to the Barclay

Christine Carrillo

Taking his cue from his family, Habib Koite liberated the musical

talent laying dormant within him and jumped into a world of popular

rhythms that has since given him universal notoriety.

Incorporating the musical sounds of his Malian heritage with

musical influences he’s acquired during his travels, Koite,

accompanied by his band Bamada, creates a distinctive sound that

blends jazz and blues rhythms with a contemporary West African guitar

styling that softly serenades audiences around the world.

And on Thursday, the guitar virtuoso’s beats will resonate within

the walls at Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, giving Orange County

residents a chance to experience his infectious style.

Koite, who has been referred to as one of the greatest new voices

in African music and one of Mali’s most exciting artists, will be

performing in various theaters, clubs and performing arts venues in

the United States and across North American as part of his 2003 tour.

It is through such tours and travels that he has been able to

create such an idiosyncratic style.

By combining the diverse musical traditions of his Malian homeland

with his cosmopolitan life experiences, Koite has continued to

embrace cultural sounds and incorporate ethnic beats into his music.

“I can get some influence ... from everywhere in the world,” he

said. “My music can evolve when I don’t stay in the same place all

the time.”

Some influences are a little more difficult to incorporate. Koite

has found that Latin rhythms were the easiest to work with.

In his most recent album, “Baro,” Koite took traditional melodies

and guitar stylings and mixed them with Cuban influenced grooves.

But blending sounds of cultures aside from his own has been only

one of the steps Koite has taken to place himself in a category all

his own.

Koite, who has made fans of such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Joan

Baez and Jackson Browne, has managed to create new rhythms within his

own culture, as well.

Taking the traditional guitar stylings of Mali, which are called

danssa, and adding the word doso to describe his new style, danssa

doso, which incorporates Mali’s popular rhythms with it’s most

powerful and ancient musical traditions.

Now considered a world-class guitarist, Koite has revealed a

connection between blues and Malian music that has mustered universal

acclaim.

“It’s a big honor for me, and I’m very happy to play everywhere in

the world. ... It’s a big gift for me,” Koite said. “I like to play

on stage for the people and now I play everywhere for the people.

That is so wonderful for me.”

Tickets for the performance, which is scheduled for 8 p.m., are

$24 and $28. The theater is at 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine.

For more information, call (949) 854-4646 or visit

www.thebarclay.org.