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For the South Pasadena Winter Arts Crawl on Saturday, February 16, the Library and the Friends of the Library present a Film/Live Jazz/Art Show that starts in the Community Room at 6:00 p.m. with an art exhibit of paintings of jazz musicians by Sam Pace and a live musical performance by Mark Hatch and Group 5. “Chasing Trane,” the acclaimed documentary about extraordinary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane with start at 7 p.m. followed by a Q & A with John Scheinfeld its award-winning director. The Arts Crawl is a ‘night on the town’ for the community and venues galore will be open around the downtown area of South Pasadena. For more info.
Group 5 is led by Mark Hatch on Trumpet, Flugelhorn, and EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument). Mark is a former South Pasadena resident now based in Seattle. Shortly after graduating from college, Mark started his career with the Ray Charles Orchestra, and then went on to become musical director for Chaka Khan. He has also performed and recorded with Rufus, Aretha Franklin, Flora Purim, Louie Bellson, and many others.
Group 5 also includes Sam Riney on Saxophones and Flute, Rich Ruttenberg on Piano, Domenic Genova on Acoustic Bass and Kendall Kay on Drums. The collective experience of Group 5’s musicians, including individual stints with the likes of Jeff Beck, Phil Upchurch, Mary Wilson, Rickie Lee Jones, Kenny Burrell, Curtis Mayfield, Freddie Hubbard, Al Di Meola, Jean Luc Ponty, Rickie Lee Jones, Kenny Loggins, Randy Newman, The Manhattan Transfer and many others, enables them to come together as a band for various gigs and play together seamlessly.
“Chasing Trane,” the compelling and provocative documentary on John Coltrane, the legendary jazz saxophonist nicknamed “The Heavyweight Champion of the Universe” will be showcased at 7 p.m. The film is for anyone who appreciates the power of music to entertain, inspire and transform. It uses archival footage and Coltrane’s music, some of it unreleased, to explore the extraordinary career and pioneering musical advancements of Coltrane who passed away in 1967 at only age 40. Featured commentary by Bill Clinton, Carlos Santana, Coltrane Family members, and a host of top flight jazz musicians, as well as Denzel Washington whose voice is used for Coltrane’s spoken lines. The acclaimed film eloquently documents how Coltrane, after making his mark in bebop and hard bop, became the leader in the free jazz movement.
John Coltrane remains an enigmatic, dominant figure whose massive influence on generations of artists has grown even stronger since his too-soon passing. The free event will also feature a Q & A by Director John Scheinfeld, who presented his award-winning documentaries “Who Is Harry Nilsson” and “The U.S. vs. John Lennon” to previous full houses at the Library.
Acclaimed writer/director John Scheinfeld was recently called “the premier director of popular culture bios on music icons.” The GRAMMY® and EMMY® nominee has tackled many music legends in his illustrious career including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Nat King Cole, and many others.
The Community Room is located at 1115 El Centro Street in South Pasadena. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and no tickets or reservations are necessary and admission is free.
The event is sponsored by the South Pasadena Public Library and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library. Special thanks to Atomic Records, 210eastsound, the Lucille and Edward R. Roybal Foundation, South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, SPACE, and Videotheque.
