Art meets music at ASU’s Polytechnic campus

<p class="style1">MESA, Ariz. – A faculty and staff member at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus are pooling their talents and bringing Art Beat to the general public at 7:30 p.m., on Oct. 2, Student Union Cooley Ballroom. Art Beat brings the music of the Metro Phoenix Jazz Orchestra (MPJO) and the artwork of Michael Wirtz together for the first time.</p><separator></separator><p class="style1">The community is welcome to listen to the MPJO play jazz and big band classics while enjoying the art of Wirtz, which will be on display during the concert.</p><separator></separator><p class="style1">Jay Busch, lecturer of music history and appreciation courses at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, is a founding member of MPJO, a 10 piece ensemble, which performs a wide variety of classic and orchestral jazz repertoire. Its repertoire traverses the classics of the big bands as well as the significant repertoire of the hard bop and modern composers. Original compositions will be sprinkled throughout to add contemporary mix to the concert.</p><separator></separator><p class="style1">Wirtz, library supervisor, has been honored by the Contemporary Forum of the Phoenix Art Museum through the organization’s Artist’s Grant program. His work has been included in many regional, national and international shows, including the 2005 Arizona Biennial in Tucson where he won the “Award for Excellence,” and the 2006 Americas 2000 international exhibition of works on paper where he won the “Juror’s Award.” His work also has been featured in New American Painting, and the much-acclaimed book Phoenix: 21st Century City.</p><separator></separator><p class="style1">Art Beat is free and open to the public. For directions or information, call (480) 727-1098 or visit <a href="http://www.poly.asu.edu/">www.poly.asu.edu</a>.</p&gt;