Tuesday’s (12/21) Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) reports, “The New Orleans Hornets have formed a partnership with trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to showcase local musicians and their songs during home games at the New Orleans Arena this season. Starting with Wednesday’s pre-season home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, a house band of local musicians will perform courtside during game breaks on the ‘Irvin Mayfield’s I Club Stage.’ … Mayfield will officially launch the music program, called ‘Inspired to Play,’ at the Hornets’ home opener Dec. 28 against the Boston Celtics. The Grammy Award-winning trumpeter will perform the national anthem and a new Hornets theme song that he composed. … ‘We’re going to make sure New Orleans music pervades each Hornets game,’ NOJO President and CEO Ronald Markham said. ‘This is not a one-off deal,’ Mayfield said. ‘This isn’t going to be a band that shows up every so often. This will be part of the Hornets brand.’ ” Mayfield, who also serves as Artistic Director of Jazz at the Minnesota Orchestra, was spotlighted in the recent Symphony article “A Love Supreme?” about orchestral-jazz collaborations.
Posted December 21, 2011
