http://www.elitestv.com/pub/2005/Nov/EEN4370db8d76ce1.html

“Time” magazine hosted a Global Health Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the performance space in Time Warner’s spiffy new headquarters on Columbus Circle in Manhattan.

Speakers at the three-day conference included Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who probably knows more than he wants to about computer viruses. Gates shared the stage with Bill Clinton, and the pair was cleverly referred to as “the Bills”. We carefully studied the list of experts and world leaders on the roster and timed our visits for Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson, actress Glenn Close, CNN founder Ted Turner, and Irish rock star Bono, who chimed in via satellite link, twice.

Alicia Keys closed the conference with the Black Ball, a stunning concert fundraiser for Keep a Child Alive, an organization benefiting children with HIV/AIDS. Keys rocked out with John Mayer, who has a great voice and played electric guitar. Pre-show, we spoiled Usher’s surprise by asking what he’d be singing later. “I didn’t even want to tell anybody I was performing, but I guess you guys found out about it”, he told us. (He did a couple of duets with Keys.)

Keys rapped with Common, and sang a cappella with Paul Simon and the Agape Children’s Choir. At one point, a giant monitor flickered, and we heard, “Turn me on, Alicia”, and Bono appeared on the screen. He and Keys sang a song they’d just recorded together that will soon be available for download, with proceeds going to charity.

Whoopi Goldberg and Jeffrey Wright participated, Giorgio Armani sent the outfits, and Jessica Alba, Cynthia Nixon and Natasha Richardson were in the audience.