Denzel Washington as John Coltrane (voice)

Antonia Andrews as Self - Stepdaughter

Bill Clinton as Self - Politician

Michelle Coltrane as Self - Stepdaughter

Oran Coltrane as Self - Son

Ravi Coltrane as Self - Son

Common as Self - Musician

John Densmore as Self - Musician

Yasuhiro Fujioka as Self - Coltrane's Collector

Osaharu Fukushima as Self - Nagasaki Gig Assistant (1966)

Benny Golson as Self - Musician

Jimmy Heath as Self - Musician

Ashley Kahn as Self - Biographer

Wynton Marsalis as Self - Musician

Lewis Porter as Self - Musician

Ben Ratliff as Self - Music Critic

Sonny Rollins as Self - Musician

Carlos Santana as Self - Musician

Wayne Shorter as Self - Musician

McCoy Tyner as Self - Musician

Kamasi Washington as Self - Musician

Cornel West as Self - Philosopher

Reggie Workman as Self - Musician

Alice Coltrane as Self - Musician / 2nd Wife (archive footage)

John Coltrane as Self - Musician (archive footage)

Miles Davis as Self - Musician (archive footage)

Martin Luther King Jr. as Self - Civil Rights Activist (archive footage)