By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff  

Clinton talks sax with Flipside

Flipside are Friends of Bill. The Boston band favored by bigshots had a private moment with President Bill Clinton before he was hustled out of Saturday’s American Heart Association soiree at the Copley Westin. Seems the former commander in chief caught sight of Elan Trotman‘s saxophone and wanted to take a closer look, so Clinton and his Secret Service detail ducked into a kitchen to allow the ex prez to talk with Trotman about his black Selmer sax. ”He was telling us about his collection,” said band manager Corin Ashley. ”He has about 20 saxes given to him over the years.” Flipside’s played for Jack and Suzy Welch, ”Survivor” alum Elisabeth Filarski, and Tom Finneran‘s two daughters, but conversing with Clinton? ”The guy’s ridiculously charming,” said Ashley.