“My Favorite Things” – a true jazz story by Uri Marc Nusinow

August 29th, 2026

My Favorite Things

by Uri Marc Nusinow

…..1973: Ben was my roommate at Sonoma State College. We got high together, drank Jack Daniel’s, and listened to music—rock music. But then we heard John Coltrane’s version of the Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers song “My Favorite Things.“

…..I drove into Cotati to buy cigarette papers, then dropped into the record store next door. The bins were stuffed with those boring singer-songwriters of the early seventies: James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Kris Kristofferson. Whatever happened to rock ‘n’ roll?

…..I walked by the jazz section, glancing at the names: Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cannonball Adderley. I asked the store clerk for a recommendation.

…..“Trane, man … he’s fucking phenomenal. You should buy My Favorite Things.”

…..I bought it.

…..When I got back, I found Ben in his default position—lying splayed on the floor, smoking a joint, and picking out riffs on his guitar—”Purple Haze,” “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Born to Be Wild.”

…..“Hey, Ben, pass me that joint.”

…..“No, it’s my last one. I gotta finish it… But we still have some Jack left.”

…..He passed me the bottle of Jack Daniel’s.

…..I poured myself a shot.

…..“Hey! What about me?”

…..I poured him a shot, then showed him the album.

…..“Check this out. John Coltrane. It’s jazz.”

…..He made a face. “Jazz? You must be kidding.”

…..“Fuck you, I want to listen.”

…..I removed the shrink wrap, slid out the LP, put it on the record player, lowered the needle, and kicked up the volume.

…..We started listening, both of us entranced by the melodic and lyrical sound of Coltrane’s soprano sax—we got to the middle of the album.

…..Ben said, “Hey, man, stop the record. I’m blown away… this is fuckin’ incredible.”

…..“Yeah,” I said. “It’s pretty cool.”

…..I poured us two more shots and put the needle back. At the end of the record, Ben gave me a dramatic look and put his guitar on the floor. “That’s it for me … no more guitar. From this minute on, soprano sax is my axe. Now pour me another shot.”

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Epilogue

…..I left Sonoma a year later and lost contact with Ben. Two years ago, during a random internet search, I came across the news:

…..Benjamin Bossi died in December 2023 from complications related to the early onset Alzheimer’s disease. From 1979 to 1986, he played soprano sax for the new wave band Romeo Void. He went on to write soundtracks for movies and TV series, including The Wolf of Wall Street and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

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Uri Marc Nusinow is a college dropout who has worn many professional hats—kibbutznik, museum photographer, chef, project manager, and CFO of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. His zigzagging life inspired a self-deprecating and humorous memoir, From LA-LA Land to the “Promised Land”: An Odyssey of Love and Remarkable Careers and he has posted stories on Substack and photos on Instagram. Originally from Los Angeles, he lives with his wife Racheli on Kibbutz Ketura.

Listen to the 1961 recording of John Coltrane playing the Oscar Hammerstein II/Richard Rodgers composition “My Favorite Things,” with McCoy Tyner (piano); Steve Davis (bass); and Elvin Jones (drums). [Rhino/Atlantic]