On Tuesday the Hornets announced a partnership with New Orleans jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and owner of two New Orleans jazz clubs — the Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street and the I Club at the JW Marriott Hotel on Canal Street.

A band is on tap to perform courtside Wednesday night when the Hornets play the Memphis Grizzlies in a preseason matchup. The official “Inspired to Play” music initiative, however, kicks off Dec. 28 when the Hornets take on the Boston Celtics. The courtside stage at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets’ home court, will carry Mayfield’s I Club name and host a rotating selection of New Orleans musicians who will perform original songs composed especially for the Hornets.

“I’m very honored. To have your own stage and be directly associated with the NBA is huge, but make no mistake I recognize this is going to be a challenge,” said Mayfield, who is composing some original works for the team as well as soliciting songs from area musicians.

Mayfield said his goal is to eventually have a bank of about 300 songs to pull from during games.

“It’s going to be challenging because you need songs with a lot of energy to accompany a sporting event,” he said. “But I’m up for the challenge.”

Hornets President Hugh Weber said he has been working with Mayfield for a while on how to merge their assets “to create something even better.” Weber said the initiative is ideal because it blends two New Orleans brands — music and sports — and will help local musicians by “putting money back in their pockets.”

Participating musicians will include members of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and some musicians who have been featured at Mayfield’s clubs.

The city acquired its first NBA franchise, the New Orleans Jazz, in 1974. The team moved to Salt Lake City five years later, and Louisiana snagged the Hornets from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002.