Parents' Guide to

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Passionate docu about iconic jazz musician; drugs, alcohol.

Movie NR 2017 99 minutes
Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Poster Image

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The best thing about this documentary, besides the music, is the filmmaker's blending of the culture in which John Coltrane lived with the cutting-edge innovations he contributed to that culture. For Coltrane, the answer to everything is "truth." He found his truth by connecting with his faith and his music. As Coltrane says, "I don't play jazz; I play Coltrane." It's clear that John Scheinfeld wants to share Coltrane's truth with his film audience. "Free jazz," as the style that Coltrane actualized is often called, does not appeal to all, but this beautifully conceived and realized tribute to the artist makes Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary worth a look for all music lovers.

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