Independent Lens

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

Chasing Trane is a portrait of a remarkable artist, revealing the critical events, passions, experiences and challenges that shaped the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds.

Chasing Trane - Trailer

30s

Set against the social, political and cultural landscape of the times, 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 whose influence continues to this day.

  • Chasing Trane - Coltrane Reawakens with New Blood - Clip: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Chasing Trane - Coltrane Reawakens with New Blood - Clip

    S19 E1 - 2m 58s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Chasing Trane, legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane is brought to life—with his words spoken by Denzel Washington—in the period of artistic flourishing shortly after he'd become clean and sober. Here, Coltrane collaborates with the brilliant composer/pianist Thelonious Monk and then ventures out on his own as a jazz leader.

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