 |
| Photo Credit: Chasing Trane Official Facebook |
Chasing Trane will premiere on November 6 on Independent Lens on PBS. The documentary will tell the story of saxophone player John Coltrane. The film will tale a look at the musician whose influence continues to this day.
The film by John Scheinfeld is the first Coltrane film produced with the cooperation of his family. As a result, viewers will get a full look at Coltrane who is still influencing musicians and listeners, both musically and spiritually.
Chasing Trane features never-before-seen Coltrane family home movies, footage of Coltrane and his band in the studio (discovered in a California garage during the production of this
film), along with hundreds of rare photographs and television appearances from around the world.
Coltrane’s story is told by the musicians who worked with him which includes Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Reggie Workman and musicians inspired by his artistry which includes Common, John Densmore, Wynton Marsalis, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter and Kamasi Washington.
Also included are his children Ravi, Oran, and step-daughters Michelle Coltrane and Antonia Andrews and biographers, and well-known admirers such as President Bill Clinton and Dr. Cornel West.
Chasing Trane reveals the critical events, passions, experiences, and challenges that shaped Coltrane’s life and his revolutionary sounds. It is a story of demons and darkness, of persistence and redemption. The film has Coltane’s music throughout and tells the story of how his work transcends all barriers of geography, race, religion, and age.
Although Coltrane never did any television interviews (and only a handful for radio) during his lifetime, he has an active and vibrant presence in the film through thoughts he expressed during print interviews. These words—spoken by Academy Award winner Denzel Washington—illuminate what John Coltrane may have been thinking or feeling at critical moments throughout his life and career.
A preview clip and panel took place at PBS session of Summer TCA (Television Critics Association) with the film’s director, John Scheinfeld, as well as Michelle Coltrane. and saxophonist Kamasi Washington.
Coltrane talked about her memories of her dad and why she is behind the product. She discussed having famous parents (her mom is jazz great Alice Coltane), their legacy and growing up as a normal family. She states that as she got older she then saw how important her parents were in the music business.
Washington spoke on the influences that Coltrane has on his career. Scheinfeld talked about the project and putting the documentary together.
