no patti - Vaclav Havel's Night at the Knitting Factory

[jonathan kaye <jk>]

sorry about the non-patti content but this was pretty amazing and in some
ways very pattiesque. it was sent to the john zorn list by the p.r. person
for the knitting factory.


>
>   Czech President Vaclav Havel and U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright
>                        Visit the Knitting Factory
>
>
>NEW YORK - The Knitting Factory in New York City is always ready for
>anything when John Zorn plays.  But Zorn's Chamber Masada found some most
>unusual guests in the audience for the second set on Thursday night, May
>15.  Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson played host to Czech Republic president
>Vaclav Havel and his new wife and U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright
>and their entourage.
>
>Havel, in town for talks that may bring the Eastern Block into NATO,
>contacted Lou Reed prior to his visit to arrange a bit of sightseeing and
>clubhopping during his New York sojourn.  Reed, who has been seen numerous
>times recently at the Knitting Factory as both performer and spectator,
>contacted Knitting Factory founder Michael Dorf to arrange a special
>reception for Havel.  Dorf let John Zorn know what would be happening in
>advance, and plans were made.  The Knitting Factory was crawling with
>secret service before long, and the best was yet to come...
>
>Little did anyone know that Havel and his wife, escorted by Reed and Laurie
>Anderson, would also invite Secretary of State Madeline Albright, holder of
>the third highest office in the country.  Ms. Albright and Havel
>immediately engaged in animated conversation, whereupon Zorn, from the
>stage, peered up to the balcony and said, "You up there, shut the f**k up,
>listen to the music!" whereupon conversation did in fact cease.
>
>Needless to say an international incident did not occur.  Everyone reported
>having a terrific time and enjoyed the music greatly.  Even Zorn knew it
>had been an historic occasion, and gave Dorf a wink on his way out the
>door.
>
>                                     ###
>