Clinton faces the music

President William Jefferson Clinton was interviewed by Herbie Hancock in the October, 2006 Jazziz Magazine (http://www.jazziz.com/). He talks about his study of music growing up; what he loves about jazz music and he makes suggestions on how to listen to jazz. Interestingly, one of his favorite living tenor saxophonists is, Russian-born, Igor Butman. Clinton talked about visiting other communist countries and the music that he heard there.

Vaclav Havel [former Czech president] is a big jazz fan that Clinton visited clubs with. In addition, Czechoslavakia-born former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, took him to US clubs too. Below is one of my favorite quotes, from my book, The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac, Allworth Press, with a reference to Madeleine among others.

Shut the F—k up! We’re trying to make some music down here! Jive-ass motherfu---r’s.
--John Zorn to Vaclav Havel; Madeline Albright; Laurie Anderson; and Lou Reed who were talking during a Bar Kokhba show at the Knitting Factory.

P.S. John Zorn, along with Regina Carter were one of the recipients of the MacArthur Awards, called MacArthur Fellows.
(http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.2066195/k.3C63/2006_Gallery.htm)