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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

‘Chasing Trane’ Documents Saxophonist’s Sound

Jazz musician John Coltrane gave no television interviews during his 20-year career and no more than a handful of radio interviews. So in putting together his documentary “Chasing Trane,” filmmaker John Scheinfeld relied on the words of Coltrane himself from print interviews and liner notes from his albums. But he wanted a movie star to read those words to bring Coltrane to life and for that Scheinfeld secured Denzel Washington. “He got Coltrane,” Scheinfeld said in a phone interview as he waited for a flight in Brazil where he was working on a new project. “Denzel was perfect for it, knew what he wanted to do and I’m thrilled that he took the time to participate. Our film is much better for it.” “Chasing Trane” had its theatrical premiere in New York on April 14 and opens in Los Angeles on April 21 at the Landmark Theater at the Westside Pavilion and Laemmle theaters in Pasadena and North Hollywood. The film will play on 83 screens nationwide and is being distributed by Abramorama in New York. “For a documentary, that is really good,” said Scheinfeld, a Sherman Oaks resident. “We have been gratified that more theaters have responded more quickly than we could have expected and it seems to be growing.” Scheinfeld’s body of work includes documentaries on other singers and musicians, including John Lennon, Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson; on the Chicago Cubs; and two done with talk show host Dick Cavett on Watergate and the Vietnam War. Coltrane, who died in 1967 at age 40 of liver cancer, fits with the other musicians Scheinfeld has chronicled as an artist who found success on his own terms and had a clear vision of who was and what he wanted his art to be. “Chasing Trane” features 48 of the saxophonist’s compositions. Scheinfeld worked on the film over a period of 18 months. It premiered on the festival circuit last September in Telluride, Colo. and a week later was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival where it earned good reviews. Ultimately, Scheinfeld said the story he tells is an inspiring and uplifting one in that there are aspects to Coltrane’s life that everyone can relate to. “It is a positive story about an artist who followed his heart, followed his muse where it took him irrespective of commercial concern,” he added. Singing Contest Guitar Center Inc. has named a professional singer from Georgia as the winner of its sixth annual singer-songwriter competition. The Westlake Village musical instrument retailer partnered with music producer RedOne in the competition that had its grand finale in March at the Troubador in Los Angeles. John Russell was named the winner. Russell received $25,000 in cash, the recording of a four-song extended play disc with RedOne., a performance slot on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” career mentoring from Australian singer Cody Simpson, new musical gear and a showcase performance at next year’s NAMM show in Anaheim. Russell, of Savannah, Ga., has written songs for commercials and television and has a sound that straddles pop, rock, funk and jazz.  Russell said he entered the contest to share his story with people and was grateful to Guitar Center for the opportunity to do that. “Music was always a hobby of mine, but they pushed me to pursue it,” Russell said in a prepared statement. “Now, the only way to go is up.” Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of guitars, drums, keyboards, amplifiers and other music related equipment. It has more than 280 stories in the U.S. Super Wear Warner Bros. Consumer Products in Burbank has teamed up with entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein on an activewear collection inspired by DC Comics superheroes Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman. Eckstein’s Her Universe created the fashion line for exclusive distribution in Kohl’s Corp. stores nationwide and through the retailer’s website starting earlier this month. The collection includes tank tops, tees, jackets and shorts priced between $24 and $55. The Wonder Woman line becomes available in May in conjunction with the Warner Bros. film featuring the character arriving in theaters June 2. Warner Bros. Consumer Products President Pam Lifford said the division was thrilled to partner with Eckstein on the apparel line. “This all-new activewear collection is inspired by Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman, and is for everyone who wants to exude their inner superhero, show off their strength and power, and just have some fun,” Lifford said in a prepared statement. Her Universe, founded in 2010, is a subsidiary of Hot Topic Inc., the music- and gaming-related clothing and accessories retailer. The company has also released fashion lines and accessories connected with Disney’s Star Wars and Marvel properties, Doctor Who and Star Trek. Staff Reporter Mark R. Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or [email protected].

Mark Madler
Mark Madler
Mark R. Madler covers aviation & aerospace, manufacturing, technology, automotive & transportation, media & entertainment and the Antelope Valley. He joined the company in February 2006. Madler previously worked as a reporter for the Burbank Leader. Before that, he was a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago and several daily newspapers in the suburban Chicago area. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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