Traces John Coltrane's musical growth from his roots in the black church and rhythm and blues through his forty years of life and beyond, culminating in a musical meeting between Roscoe Mitchell and dervish musicians in Morocco's Western Sahara desert. The film also includes extensive performance footage of Coltrane.

The first fully rounded portrait of this terribly misunderstood man and musician, the ringleader of the bebop revolution, and, after Duke Ellington, Jazz' first major composer. He remained a highly productive musician after more than thirty years of musical activity. Includes clips of international performances and interviews with artists and producers.