On November 17, respected filmmaker John
Scheinfeld's acclaimed feature documentary film, Chasing Trane: The John
Coltrane Documentary, will be released by UMe on DVD and Blu-ray with exclusive
bonus features. On the same date, Verve/UMe will release the film's vital audio
companion — Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Original Soundtrack —
on CD, 180-gram 2-LP vinyl, and digital audio. Set against the social,
political and cultural landscape of the time, Chasing Trane brings saxophone
great John Coltrane to life, as a man and an artist. The film is the definitive
look at the boundary-shattering musician and composer whose influence continues
to resonate around the world.
Written and
directed by John Scheinfeld [The U.S. vs. John Lennon; Who Is Harry Nilsson
(And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)], Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane
Documentary is a rich and compelling portrait of a remarkable artist that
reveals the critical events, passions, experiences and challenges that shaped
the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds. The captivating film is
produced by Spencer Proffer, John Beug, Scott Pascucci, and Dave Harding, with
the support of the Coltrane family and the record labels that collectively
manage the Coltrane catalog. Chasing Trane's DVD and Blu-ray packages include a
booklet with an essay by Scheinfeld and rare photos seen in the film. The
soundtrack's booklet also includes rare photos from the film and an essay by
journalist and film participant Ashley Kahn.
Chasing
Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary features never-before-seen Coltrane family
home movies, footage of Coltrane and his band in the studio (discovered in a
California garage during production of the film), along with hundreds of
never-before-seen photographs and rare television appearances from around the
world. The smart, passionate, thought-provoking and uplifting film reveals the
critical events, passions, experience, and challenges that shaped Coltrane's
life and his revolutionary sounds. It is a story of demons and darkness, of
persistence and redemption. Above all, it is the incredible spiritual journey
of a man who found himself and, in the process, created an extraordinary,
iconic body of work that transcends all barriers of geography, race, religion
and age.
"A
music titan gets his cinematic due in Chasing Trane, a comprehensive,
engrossing and, it's tempting to say, worshipful account of the life of John
Coltrane..." - Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
John
Coltrane's incredible story is told by the musicians who worked with him (Sonny
Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Reggie Workman), musicians
inspired by his fearless artistry and creative vision (Common, The Doors' John
Densmore, Wynton Marsalis, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Kamasi Washington),
Coltrane's children and biographers, and well-known admirers including
President Bill Clinton and Dr. Cornel West. Although Coltrane did not
participate in any television interviews and he recorded only a handful of
radio interviews during his lifetime, he is an active and vibrant presence
throughout the film, in his remarkable performance clips and in thoughts he
expressed during print interviews. In Chasing Trane, the words of John Coltrane
are spoken by Denzel Washington.
"In
many of his roles Denzel radiates an exceptional quiet strength," says the
film's director-writer John Scheinfeld. "Coltrane, many of his friends
told me, embodied a similar strength. That's why Denzel was my first choice to
speak his words and I'm thrilled he made the time to participate in our
film."
After
playing to critical and audience acclaim at its fall 2016 world premiere at the
Telluride Film Festival and at the Toronto International Film Festival, IDFA
and DOC NYC, Chasing Trane's spring 2017 theatrical release was presented by
Abramorama.
Chasing
Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary will make its television broadcast
premiere on Independent Lens on Monday, November 6, 10:00-11:30 PM ET (check
local listings) on PBS. During the month prior to the broadcast, Indie Lens
Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, Independent Lens, and local partners across the
country, will host free preview screenings and discussion events for the film
in dozens of U.S. cities.
For more
information, visit www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/chasing-trane.
On Friday,
November 17, the same day the 'Chasing Trane' home video and companion
soundtrack album will be released, the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE in Los
Angeles will open a sweeping new John Coltrane exhibit, titled Chasing Trane:
Coltrane's Musical Journey Transcended. The long-term exhibit, featuring rare
performance footage and audio recordings from Coltrane's Japanese tour in 1966,
handwritten manuscripts, instruments, and more, will be a primary installation
at the museum through September 2018.
Chasing
Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary and Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane
Documentary Original Soundtrack are essential for anyone who appreciates the
power of music to entertain, inspire, and transform. The producers of the film
were, themselves, moved by this force, collectively stating, "We entered
into this project with great respect for John Coltrane and his music. Our deep
appreciation for both only increased during the production of the film, as we
witnessed the profound impact that his music still has on so many people -- a
breadth of audience that defies any simple categorization."
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