Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

Director: John Scheinfeld  Runtime: 1hr 39min

Join us for a free viewing of the celebrated 2016 documentary Chasing Trane, a powerful, definitive portrait of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, set against the social, political, and cultural backdrop of his time. The film brings Coltrane to life as both artist and man—exploring the forces that shaped his journey and the revolutionary music that continues to inspire generations.

Featuring never-before-seen family home movies, rare studio footage discovered during production, and hundreds of archival photographs and global TV appearances, the documentary offers an intimate, multifaceted view of Coltrane’s life. His story is told through the voices of those who knew him best—collaborators like Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, and Benny Golson—as well as artists deeply influenced by his vision, including Common, Carlos Santana, Kamasi Washington, Wynton Marsalis, and President Bill Clinton.

Though Coltrane gave few interviews in his lifetime, his presence is vividly felt through words drawn from his writings and print interviews, spoken in the film by Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. Chasing Trane is a story of struggle and redemption, of deep spiritual searching, and of a musician whose work transcends all boundaries of race, faith, age, and geography—resonating more than ever today.

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