A Little Night Music: All That Jazz: How John Coltrane’s ‘My Favorite Things’ Changed American Music

Jeff MacGregor at Smithsonianmag.com offers a look back at the late, great jazz musician John Coltrane and his classic rendition of My Favorite Things.

They gathered one afternoon in late October of 1960, at the Atlantic Records studios in a nondescript building at 234 West 56th Street in New York: pianist McCoy Tyner, just 21, a prodigy from Philadelphia; Steve Davis, upright bass, 31, also from Philly; and Elvin Jones, at 33 a veteran drummer who had played with everyone from Art Farmer and Pepper Adams to Gil Evans and Miles Davis.

And then there was John Coltrane, 34, already widely acknowledged as the next great jazz saxophonist, following Charlie Parker’s death in 1955. The little band had been playing together since May.

It was the first proper recording session for the John Coltrane Quartet—and it promptly produced one of the greatest moments in jazz history: Coltrane’s rendition of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things.” A regular had recently shown Coltrane the sheet music one night at the Jazz Gallery, a club on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village, and Coltrane thought he could make something of it.

“We took it to rehearsal and, just like that, fell right into it,” Coltrane said in a 1961 interview.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

How John Coltrane's 'My Favorite Things' Changed American Music | Arts & Culture| Smithsonian Magazine 

And listen to the remastered classic jazz song via the below link:

My Favorite Things (Stereo) (2022 Remaster) (youtube.com)

Fat Leonard: U.S. Navy Bribery Fugitive 'Fat Leonard' Francis Back In San Diego; Appears in Federal Court

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

SAN DIEGO – Leonard Glenn Francis (seen in the above photo), the infamous fugitive who presided over a massive decade-long conspiracy involving scores of U.S. Navy officials, tens of millions of dollars in fraud and millions of dollars in bribes and gifts, appeared in federal court today for the first time since he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and absconded from house arrest in San Diego in September 2022.

At the hearing, the government asked U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino to set a new sentencing date immediately to avoid delays, but the judge postponed a decision based on a request by Francis’ legal team to withdraw from the case in the aftermath of his disappearance. The judge set a status hearing for February 8, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Francis, who fled the United States before he could be sentenced, was returned to the United States from Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap on December 20, 2023. From Venezuela, he arrived in the Southern District of Florida and appeared in federal court the next day in Miami, where he was ordered removed to the Southern District of California. Francis arrived in San Diego on January 3.

Francis, the owner and chief executive of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which provided services to U.S. Navy ships in ports in the Asia-Pacific region, pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in 2015. As a result of the federal investigation, more than 30 U.S. Navy officials and associates pleaded guilty.

“Leonard Francis is no longer on the run. He is on the hook,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Mr. Francis never should have fled the United States while he was waiting to be sentenced. In fact, he was ordered by a federal judge not to do so. Now that he is back in San Diego, Mr. Francis will be held fully accountable for his crimes.”

DEFENDANTS              Case Number 13-CR- 4287   

Leonard Glenn Francis    Age: 59,  Singapore

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Maximum penalty five years in prison, $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater;

Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201. Maximum 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Mandatory restitution.

Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, in violation of in violation of 18 U.S.C. sec. 371. Maximum penalty five years in prison $250,000 fine or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. Mandatory restitution.

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Defense Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Defense Contract Audit Agency 

You can read my Counterterrorism magazine piece on the Fat Lonard case via the below link:

Paul Davis On Crime: My Piece On The 'Fat Leonard' U.S. Navy Bribery And Fraud Case 

Mobster Podcasts

 Broad + Liberty published my piece on mob-related podcasts today.

You can read the piece via the below link or the below text.

Paul Davis: Mobsters with podcasts (broadandliberty.com)

I recall an old joke about mobsters caught on an FBI wiretap talking about a contract. The FBI agents leaned in with anticipation to better hear what they hoped would be incriminating evidence on the tape recorder. But sadly, they realized that the mobsters were talking about book contracts, not murder contracts.

That 25-year-old joke came from an era in which a good number of former organized crime figures were publishing their memoirs. So much for Cosa Nostra (“Our thing” in Italian) being a secret criminal society.

As I noted in my old Philadelphia Weekly Crime Beat column, organized crime stories have long interested the general public, from Jimmy Cagney mob movies from the 1930s to “The Godfather,” Goodfellas,” and the more recent “The Irishman,” which featured stories about real-life South Philly gangsters.

Bad guys are not as admirable as good guys, but in many cases, bad guys are more interesting. Mob stories offer larger than life characters, drama, black humor, violence, greed and betrayal. 

Now one can more readily hear tales of Cosa Nostra, mob wars, murder, corruption and spells in prison on numerous podcasts featured on the Internet. 

I’ve interviewed several of the popular podcasters, some of them before they became podcasters. I’m not sure who was the first mob podcaster, but former New York Colombo Cosa Nostra crime family Captain-turned Christian public speaker and author Michael Franzese has become one to the more popular ones.

Franzese walked away from the mob life after a term in prison where he became a Christian, and on his podcast, Franzese talks about his time in “the life” and how he came to Jesus as his savior. He tells his viewers how Cosa Nostra is an evil and destructive life.

I interviewed Michael Franzese in 2022 for the Washington Times. I asked him why he walked away from Cosa Nostra life. 

“I didn’t want this kind of life for my family,” Franzese replied. “I saw how destructive it was in my own personal life and to others involved, and I saw the tide changing dramatically in the 1980s. I was a major target and I had been indicted seven times. I knew it was just a matter of time before I go down, and when I do it will be forever.”

Son of the notorious former underboss of the Colombo crime family, John “Sonny” Franzese, a feared and respected mobster, Michael Franzese grew up in the criminal life. He later became a made member and a successful criminal, earning millions of dollars with various criminal scams, such as cheating the government out of gasoline taxes. In addition to traditional Cosa Nostra criminal activity, Franzese was also active in legitimate businesses, such as auto dealerships, construction and the entertainment industry. 

After fighting the federal government’s many indictments against him, he pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and was sentenced to ten years in federal prison. 

While in prison, Franzese became a devout Christian and announced that he was walking away from Cosa Nostra. He credits his wife Camille and his mother-in-law, as well as a prison guard who gave him a Bible when he was in solitary, with his religious conversion. 

Michael Franzese is the only high-ranking member of a major crime family to walk away from the mob without being in the witness protection program. Although the Colombo family initially put out a contract on his life, he lives openly for the most part, giving speeches about mob life and Christianity. 

On his podcast, he also offers his insight and experiences with the mob and street life, and he advises others to avoid it. 

Another popular former mobster with a podcast is Salvator “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, the former Gambino Cosa Nostra crime family underboss. Indicted with Gambino boss John Gotti, 

Gravano became a cooperating government witness against Gotti and others. Gravano admitted to committing nineteen murders and other crimes and after testifying, he entered the witness protection program. He was later sent to prison for a drug conspiracy in Arizona.

On his podcast, Gravano is unrepentant and speaks proudly of his criminal past. With a gravelly voice straight out of Hollywood central casting, he entertains his viewers with inside stories of mob life, crimes and other criminal personalities.

Actors, journalists and former law enforcement officers also have podcasts. 

One popular podcast on the web is offered by actor and writer Chazz Palminteri. 

Palminteri had his one-man stage show A Bronx Tale made into a popular film that was directed by Robert De Niro in 1993. De Niro portrayed Palminteri’s father, a bus driver, and Palminteri portrayed Sonny, a neighborhood mob boss.

I interviewed Chazz Palminteri for the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2016 when his one-man show was appearing in Atlantic City. I mentioned to Palminteri that A Bronx Tale was considered one of the three most realistic mob movies, along with Donnie Brasco and Goodfellas. 

Palminteri replied that A Bronx Tale was more of a family movie than a crime movie.

“It’s really about a father and son, the workingman,” Palminteri said. “My father would say, ‘He thinks he’s a tough guy; I’m the tough guy. Let him get up in the morning and work for a living.’”

On his podcast, Chazz Palminteri talks about the stage show, movie and Broadway musical A Bronx Tale. He also talks about growing up with mobsters and offers inside stories about the world of entertainment. He also talks about what he calls “neighborhood logic.”

Legendary FBI undercover agent Joseph Pistone, aka “Donnie Brasco,” infiltrated the New York Bonanno crime family for six years and was responsible for putting numerous mob guys in prison. 

He too has a podcast called Deep Cover – The Real Donnie Brasco. Pistone discusses his past and tells mob stories along with his friend, Philadelphia native and actor/writer/producer Leo Rossi.

I’ve spoken to Joe Pistone several times over the years, beginning with my interview with him in 2004 for the Philadelphia Inquirer. I later interviewed him about his podcast for my Philadelphia Weekly column in 2021. 

Pistone said he mentioned to Leo Rossi that everybody had a podcast and suggested they do something together.

“The podcast is about criminal activity, organized crime in the U.S. and foreign countries, and every so often we’ll have on a guest that is associated with law enforcement or a former gangster,” Pistone said. “We also offer a lot of insight into the TV, movie and literary industries.”

I did a follow-up column with Leo Rossi. Rossi, who hails from Northeast Philly, is exuberant and fast-talking and he contrasts with the more reticent Pistone. 

“Joe made a living out of keeping his mouth shut, and he doesn’t give it up too easy, so a trust factor came in as we started,” Rossi said. “Joe got looser, and we have laughs, and I think we hit on some pretty big topics.” 

Another popular crime podcast is Mob Talk Sitdown. Former Philadelphia Inquirer crime reporter and author George Anastasia and former Fox 29 reporter Dave Schratwieser use their extensive reporting and their historical knowledge about organized crime to tell inside stories about mobsters in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and around the country.   

More recently, another local podcast debuted on the Internet. Reputed Philadelphia Cosa Nostra crime family boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino is offering a podcast called The Skinny with Joey Merlino and Lil Snuff.

Although not used often these days, “the skinny” is a phrase that means to be informed of true inside information, so the title of the podcast is a clever play on Merlino’s nickname.

On the podcast, Merlino handicaps sport betting and tells stories about his life on the streets of South Philly, his time in prison and his criminal trials. He also talks about his disdain for cooperating government witnesses, whom he called “rats.” 

So, if after watching The Godfather, Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, Donnie Brasco and other mob movies, you haven’t got enough of mob stories, you can always surf the Internet and listen to the popular mob-related podcasts.

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com

Security Work: A Look Back At My Many Years Performing Security Duties In The U.S, Navy And The Defense Department

I recently had a conversation with an active-duty U.S. Navy 2^nd Class Master-at-Arms. 

Master-at-Arms perform law enforcement, security and force protection aboard Navy ships and shore bases. 

The young sailor read some of my pieces about my many years doing security work for the Defense Department before I became a full-time writer, first as a teenage sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War, and later on a Navy tugboat at the nuclear submarine base at Holy Lock, Scotland. 

After serving in the Navy, I performed security work as a Defense Department civilian at the Defense Personnel Support Center, known locally as “the Quartermaster” (seen in the above photo) in South Philadelphia, and later at the Naval Support Center in Northeast Philadelphia. 

As the administrative officer of a Defense Department command, I oversaw all security programs, served as an investigating officer, and performed security briefings and seminars for the command's military and civilian employees. 

After 9/11, my security work at the Navy base doubled.    

He asked me about security after the 9/11 terrorist attack, and I asked him about present-day security in the Navy. It was a most interesting conversation. 

I'm proud of my service in the Navy and the Defense Department

I suppose I was destined to do security work, as evidenced by the above photo of me when I was about ten years old guarding our Christmas tree.

The above photo is of me on guard duty as a sailor at Boot Camp in 1970 when I was 17 years old, and the below photo is of me at my desk in my office at the Quartermaster where I oversaw security for the Defense Department command in the 1990s. 

You can read some of my pieces on the Navy and the Defense Department via the below links:

Paul Davis On Crime: A Look Back At The Multi-Million Dollar Defense Contract Fraud and Bribery Case At The Philadelphia Quartermaster

Paul Davis On Crime: A Look Back At The 9/11 Attack On The Pentagon

Paul Davis On Crime: The Philadelphia Quartermaster Revisited

Paul Davis On Crime: On Yankee Station: A Look Back At The Aircraft Carrier USS Kitty Hawk During The Vietnam War, 1970-1971

Defense Department Releases Training, Resources To Help Combat Trafficking in Persons

The U.S. Department of Defense, where I served for many years, first as an enlisted teenage sailor, and later as a Defense Department civilian, released a training toolkit for service chaplains to combat human trafficking.   

 

In late December, President Joe Biden proclaimed January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and urged every American to learn how to identify signs of trafficking. The Defense Department continues its efforts to prevent and eradicate this horrific crime.

 

Human trafficking deprives millions of people worldwide of their freedom. Through innovative training and resources, the Defense Department Combating Trafficking in Persons office focuses on efforts to prevent human trafficking. CTIP offers training and awareness resources to DOD's 3.4 million civilian and military personnel.

DOD CTIP Chaplains Training and Toolkit

Chaplains play a vital role in the fight against human trafficking. Often, chaplains are the first responders to victims, survivors, parents and other service members who have suffered because of human trafficking. The new specialized CTIP chaplains' training and companion toolkit focus on loss of belief, survivor's guilt, moral injury and other spiritual issues related to human trafficking.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

DOD Releases Training, Resources to Help Combat Trafficking in Persons > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

Wishing Everyone a MAD 2024

Note: As a life-long fan of MAD magazine, I was amused to see the above cover from the MAD Magazine Fan Club.  

Happy New Year 2024 From Philadelphia