We all know that Bill Clinton loves a good blowing session-as evidenced by the former president’s saxophone-playing 1992 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. (Get your minds correct, people!)
Jazz-lover Clinton is now a venerable statesman, helping those in need around the world, but he made time to partner with Museum Music to compile an 11-track CD called The Bill Clinton Collection: Selections From the Clinton Music Room. The CD will be sold at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark., and online at www.clintonmuseumstore.com.
Here’s the track list:
• Miles Davis, “My Funny Valentine”
• Nina Simone, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
• John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman, “My One and Only Love”
• Zoot Sims, “Summertime”
• Mahalia Jackson, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
• Igor Butman, “Nostalgie”
• Judy Collins, “Chelsea Morning”
• Art Tatum, “There Will Never Be Another You”
• Mickey Mangun, “In the Presence of Jehovah”
• David Sanborn, “Harlem Nocturne”
• Phil Coulter, “The Town I Loved So Well”
Profits from sales of the CD will go to the William J. Clinton Foundation, whose mission is to develop programs and partnerships in:
• economic empowerment
• health security with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS
• racial, ethnic and religious reconciliation
• leadership development and citizen service
Clinton is quoted on the CD booklet saying, “If I’d have been a little better musician, I’d have been playing jazz at the Cotton Club instead of running for president.” Considering the Cotton Club closed in 1940-six years before Bubba was born-we’re happy he chose to be the commander in chief instead of playing a lonely tenor sax solo outside of a long-deceased jazz joint.
Originally Published