Theatrical Premiere at IFC CENTER in New York on April 14, 2017
Additional Cities to follow
Abramorama will handle the North American theatrical distribution of John Scheinfeld’s documentary Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary. The film played to critical and audience acclaim in the fall of 2016 at its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and also at the Toronto International Film Festival, IDFA and DOC NYC. Set against the social, political and cultural landscape of the times, “Chasing Trane” brings John Coltrane to life as a fully dimensional being, inviting the audience to engage with Coltrane the man, Coltrane the artist. Featuring interviews with Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Dr. Cornel West, President Bill Clinton and Common, among others, Coltrane’s own words are spoken by Denzel Washington. The film is produced by Spencer Proffer, John Beug, Scott Pascucci and Dave Harding. “Chasing Trane” will be released theatrically beginning in New York April 14, 2017 with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and additional cities to follow.
Written and directed by critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld (“The U.S. vs. John Lennon” and “Who Is Harry Nilsson...?”), “Chasing Trane” is the definitive documentary film about an outside-the-box thinker with extraordinary talent whose boundary-shattering music continues to impact and influence people around the world. This smart, passionate, thought-provoking and uplifting documentary is for anyone who appreciates the power of music to entertain, inspire and transform. The film is produced with the full participation of the Coltrane family and the support of the record labels that collectively own the Coltrane catalog.
Although Coltrane did not do any television interviews during his lifetime…and only a handful of radio interview, he will have an active and vibrant presence in the film beyond remarkable performance clips through thoughts he expressed during print interviews. His words are spoken by Academy Award winner 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.”
The producers of the film stated, "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.”
Richard Abramowitz added, “I’ve been a fan of John Scheinfeld’s work for years, particularly his Harry Nillson film, and the opportunity to work with him on this exceptional piece about a man of unequaled gifts is, indeed, a privilege.”
Coming off their recent success with Ron Howard's The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years, Abramorama has proven time and again that they are specialists at releasing music driven long-form documentaries. Other music related films that Abramorama has launched include Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty; Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil! The Story Of Anvil; Green Day’s Heart Like A Hand Grenade, Laurie Anderson’s Heart of a Dog, Dave Stewart’s Stevie Nicks: In Your Dreams, The Zen of Bennett and Bernard Shakey’s Greendale.
About Abramorama
Abramorama is the preeminent theatrical distributor of music films in the US today and recognized for the consistent high quality of its work on award winning feature films. An innovator in the focused, personalized form of film distribution and event cinema, Abramorama provides invaluable alternatives to filmmakers and content owners. An industry leader in marketing and promotion, Abramorama continues to trail-blaze exciting new pathways for filmmakers to find their audience. Over the course of more than a decade, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films, including Ron Howard’s GRAMMY Award-winning The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years; Tomer Heymann's Mr. Gaga; Dawn Porter’s Trapped; Kim A. Snyder’s Newtown; Charles Ferguson’s Time To Choose; Asif Kapadia’s Senna; Neil Young’s Greendale; Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty; Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil! The Story Of Anvil; Banksy’s Academy Award®-nominated, Exit Through The Gift Shop, the surprise indie hit Awake: The Life of Yogananda, Laurie Anderson’s astonishing New York Times critics’ pick, Heart of a Dog, Showtime’s Listen To Me Marlon (National Board of Review Winner) and Draft House Releasing's The Look of Silence (2016 Documentary Academy Award®-Nominee and 2015 IDA Best Documentary Winner). For more information visit www.abramorama.com
About writer-director John Scheinfeld
Emmy®, Grammy® and Writers Guild Award nominee and Telly Award-winner John Scheinfeld is a highly respected writer-director-producer of documentaries for theatrical and television distribution with a broad range of subjects and critically-acclaimed films to his credit including The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Who Is Harry Nilsson and (Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?, We Believe, and Dick Cavett's Watergate. In addition, Scheinfeld has also created and written pilot scripts for drama series for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and received his MFA from Northwestern University.
About producer Spencer Proffer:
Spencer Proffer is a highly regarded media producer and strategist with a long history of connecting with audiences. His productions and those he has been integrally involved with have garnered Academy, Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards and nominations, and as music producer, Proffer’s titles have sold millions of records. He has expanded his pedigree by architecting and producing original content for films, brands and distribution companies to get their message across, utilizing music as an organic component.
About producer John Beug
John Beug's career spans over 30 years in the music industry, including overseeing music video, long form television and DVD production for Warner Music Group and its record labels. A four-time Emmy nominated producer, Beug's credits include an Emmy Award for Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival and Grammy Awards for When You're Strange: A Film About The Doors and Tom Petty’s Running Down A Dream.
About producer Scott Pascucci:
Scott Pascucci is CEO of Concord Bicycle Music, a leading independent music company based in Beverly Hills, comprised of Bicycle Music and Concord Music Group. He has served in various producer capacities on music-centric films such as the Grammy Award Winning Ron Howard-directed The Beatles: Eight Days A Week -- The Touring Years, As I Am: The Life and Times of DJ AM, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin', and Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. He was previously President & COO of Exclusive Releasing, and President of Rhino Entertainment, a division of Warner Music Group where he also served as Co-Chairman of Frank Sinatra Enterprises.
About producer Dave Harding:
Dave Harding is an award winning film and television producer and production executive associated with the Academy Award Nominated Encounters At The End of the World, as well as his work on The Grizzly Man, The U.S. vs John Lennon, Leonard Cohen-I’m Your Man, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, and most recently, I Hope You Dance. Honored with three Emmy nominations for his work in television, and one Emmy win for “Wage Slaves-Not Getting By in America,” Harding produced or supervised more than 1000 hours of documentary and non-fiction programs for television while Exec VP of indie powerhouse Creative Differences.
Chatelin Bruno 
