SummaryFeaturing never-before-seen Coltrane family home movies, footage of John Coltrane and band in the studio (discovered in a California garage during production of this film), along with hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and rare television appearances from around the world, Coltrane's incredible story is told by the musicians that worked wi... Read More
Directed By:John Scheinfeld
Written By:John Scheinfeld
Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
Metascore
Generally Favorable
69
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
69
69% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 21, 2017
91
Coltrane’s final phase of “free jazz” is also amply documented, with stunning concert and music clips throughout.
Apr 14, 2017
88
Chasing Trane streamlines the story of the jazz saxophonist, but it does so in a way that doesn’t feel like cheating. Scheinfeld’s approach is to give the viewer the forest, point out a few trees and get out, confident that those trees will inspire the viewer to spend more time in the forest.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
80% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
20% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jan 7, 2019
10
Beautiful portrait of John Coltrane. Written and directed by John Scheinfeld and released in 2017, this documentary describes Coltrane's life from childhood until his premature death, at age 40. It also deals with Trane's heroin and alcohol addictions, and how he rebounded by sheer willpower. His life was spared and his music improved.
The documentary features many interviews of friends, fans and family members. Wonderful pictures and exclusive footage are shown. Denzel Washington lends his voice reading excerpts from interviews. Jazz fans will enjoy this documentary, very informative. Length: 1hr 39min
Sep 11, 2018
9
A must-see for anyone who likes jazz, or just musical history in the fifties and sixties. The interviews are a cut above, especially by Bennie Golson, Jimmy Heath, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane's first daughter, and even, believe it or not, Bill Clinton. The music is superb, somehow finding the time to have excerts from Coltrane's most transcendent work -- Giant Steps, Naima, Alabama, My Favorite Things, Alabama, All Blues and more. (Only one of my must-hear favorites is missing - Afro-Blue.) Intelligent, coherent -- a great introduction to Coltrane if you don't know him, and a wonderful appreciation for those of us who do. Even the animations are beautiful.
Jun 27, 2017
75
Some are born great, others achieve greatness, and in the documentary Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, we meet a musician who falls squarely in the latter camp.
Apr 27, 2017
75
In Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, documentarian John Scheinfeld shows that the music of one of jazz’s most experimental saxophone players still speaks to audiences today.
May 3, 2017
63
The documentary variously consists of archival performance footage, home movies, photographs, pointlessly flashy graphics, and many, many talking heads.
Apr 27, 2017
50
Chasing Trane celebrates its subject with great passion, but it often feels like walking in late into a good party.
Jun 26, 2017
8
This film finally came to San Diego, this past weekend, and I had the great pleasure of seeing it with the director in the house. The film is well-made - although most of the film is chronological, it wisely starts out with Coltrane's stint with Miles Davis and his effort to kick the heroin habit. This is not a concert film, but there are many excerpts of Coltrane's music, including in-concert footage. Coltrane did no TV interviews, and I was told that his radio interviews were of poor quality (and therefore not used), but Denzel Washington does a great job of narrating Coltrane's written words. Most of the interviews were enlightening, and the interviews in Japan put Coltrane's last concert (in Japan) into context with his views on life. All jazz fans should see this film, and others should also give it a chance.
Nov 24, 2017
2
this movie change my life for a day. while i watched it i felt i could identify with how he felt about his music I am a jazz fan now. itunes is better with coltrane
Production Company:
- Meteor 17
- Crew Neck Productions
Release Date:Apr 14, 2017
Duration:1 h 39 m
Awards
Black Reel Awards
• 1 Nomination
