Jayne Cortez (1934–2012) was an influential American poet, performer, and bandleader whose dynamic fusion of spoken word and avant-garde jazz reshaped the landscape of Black creative expression. Rooted in the rhythms of the blues, African traditions, and political consciousness, her performances with The Firespitters delivered urgent, improvisational energy. A key figure of the Black Arts Movement, Cortez’s work addressed themes of freedom, identity, and resistance, earning international acclaim for her fearless artistry and her role in redefining the power of poetry and music as instruments of change.