What is jazz poetry?

Jazz poetry combines poetic text and jazz music, either improvisational or composed. Poetry has been set to music since ancient times. Jazz poetry is usually understood as poetry that is written in a style inspired by jazz music, and particularly, the improvisatory nature of jazz solos and the "call and response" structure of jazz melodies. Jazz poetry might, for example, utilize onomatopoeia to resemble the sounds of a jazz instrument or it could use words in place of rhythms or melodies.

Improvisational jazz poetry involves poets taking the stage with jazz musicians and speaking verses based on the rhythms of the accompanying music.