Charlotte’s Jazz Arts Initiative (JAI) is proud to kick off Season 8 of its highly acclaimed monthly series – The Jazz Room @ The Stage Door Theater – with two additional shows each month. The new season debuts on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday Oct. 22, 2016 with Grammy award-winning jazz trumpeter and Charlotte native Ashlin Parker playing the music of jazz legend Kenny Dorham. Showtimes are 6:00PM and 8:15PM on Oct. 21 and 7:00PM and 9:15PM on Oct. 22, at The Stage Door Theater, part of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, at the corner of 5th and College in Uptown Charlotte.

The fall/winter season continues on Nov. 18 & 19 with David Finucane playing the music of Joe Henderson and a very special to-be-announced holiday show in December. On Jan. 20 & 21 flutist Kent Jordon plays the music of Hubert Laws accompanied by strings; Feb. 17 & 18 is the Jazz Room's special Trumpet Summit and March 17 & 18 Andy Page plays the Return of Gypsy Jazz: a Tribute to guitarist Django Reinhardt.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be expanding The Jazz Room to Saturday nights," said Lonnie Davis, President and CEO of JAI. "We now have the opportunity for even more people to enjoy these outstanding jazz performances and special season ticket packages are available. Our shows always seem to sell out in a hurry so we do encourage everyone to get tickets early."

The Jazz Room @ The Stage Door Theater spotlights the Charlotte region’s most gifted musicians recreating the sounds of the greatest legends in jazz in a casual, intimate setting with cabaret tables and a full bar. Limited tickets are only $14 and can be purchased at www.carolinatix.org, by calling 704-372-1000, or $16 at the door if available. Jazz Room subscriptions and Season 8 bundle packages are also available. The public is advised to purchase tickets early as these shows tend to sell out quickly.