Jayne Cortez
Encyclopedia
Jayne Cortez is an American poet
, and performance artist.
Her poems have been translated into many languages and widely published in anthologies, journals, and magazines.
She was organizer of "Slave Routes the Long Memory" and "Yari Yari Pamberi: Black Women Writer Dissecting Globalization," both conferences were held at New York University
. She is president of the Organization of Women Writers of Africa, and appears on screen in the films "Women In Jazz" and "Poetry In Motion."
She married Ornette Coleman
in 1954 and divorced him in 1964.
She is the mother of jazz drummer Denardo Coleman
. She lives in New York City
, and Dakar, Senegal.
with Firespitter Band
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and performance artist.
Biography
She grew up in California. She is the author of ten books of poems and performer of her poetry with music on nine recordings. Her voice is celebrated for its political, surrealistic, dynamic innovations in lyricism, and visceral sound. Cortez has presented her work and ideas at universities, museums, and festivals in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and the United States.Her poems have been translated into many languages and widely published in anthologies, journals, and magazines.
She was organizer of "Slave Routes the Long Memory" and "Yari Yari Pamberi: Black Women Writer Dissecting Globalization," both conferences were held at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. She is president of the Organization of Women Writers of Africa, and appears on screen in the films "Women In Jazz" and "Poetry In Motion."
She married Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
in 1954 and divorced him in 1964.
She is the mother of jazz drummer Denardo Coleman
Denardo Coleman
Denardo Ornette Coleman is an American jazz drummer. He is the son of Ornette Coleman and Jayne Cortez.Denardo Coleman began playing drums at age six; his first appearance on record was on his father's 1966 album The Empty Foxhole; Ornette later featured Denardo on many of his releases, and he...
. She lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Dakar, Senegal.
Awards
- Arts International
- the National Endowment for the Arts
- the International African Festival Award
- The Langston Hughes Award
- 1980 American Book AwardAmerican Book AwardThe American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
Poetry
- The Beautiful Book Bola Press 2007
- Somewhere in Advance of Nowhere, Serpent's Tail, (1997)
- Firespitter, Bola Press, (1982)
- Mouth on Paper, Bola Press, (1977)
- Scarifications, Bola Press, (1973)
- Pissstained Stairs and the Monkey Man's Wares, Phrase Text, (1969)
Discography
- 1974: Celebrations & Solitudes (Strata-East RecordsStrata-East RecordsStrata-East Records is an American record label specialising in jazz which was founded in 1971 by Stanley Cowell and Charles Tolliver.Gil Scott-Heron recorded his 1974 album Winter in America with Brian Jackson for Strata-East. "The Bottle" featured on the album, was a popular single...
)
with Firespitter Band
- "Taking the Blues Back Home," produced by Harmolodic and by Verve Records
- "Borders of Disorderly Time" released by Bola Press
- "Find Your Own Voice" released by Bola Press