Jonathan Stout
Photo by Jennifer Stockert
Jonathan Stout is a bandleader and guitarist specializing in pre-bebop jazz guitar. As a guitarist, Jonathan draws from the many and varied styles of pre-bebop jazz guitar, including the rhythm guitar of Freddie Green, the electric single-note style of Charlie Christian, the acoustic block-chord solos of Allan Reuss, and the gypsy-jazz of Django Reinhardt. Jonathan also writes a noted blog on swing guitar (now found here, on this website). Beside playing in his own bands, Jonathan is a member of the Bonebrake Syncopators (led by DJ Bonebrake of the band X), and has played guitar for Michael Gamble and his Rhythm Serenaders, Josh Collazo's Candy Jacket Jazz Band, Casey MacGill, Dean Mora (Mora's Modern Rhythmists, et. al), the Boilermaker Jazz Band, the Lucky Stars, Jim Ziegler’s Swingsations, Josh Collazo and his Feetwarmers, Bill Elliott, and Johnny Crawford. He played on Jeremy Wakefield's 2005 Album, "Steel Guitar Caviar" (Ecco-Fonic), as well as Michael Gamble and his Rhythm Serenaders' self-titled 2016 debut album.
As a dancer, Jonathan is proud to have learned from such original masters Ann Mills, Hal Takier, Freda Angela, and Bart Bartolo. Jonthan danced on the first place team at the 2002 National Jitterbug Championships. Because of his experience as a dancer, Jonathan is uniquely suited to understand the interaction between Swing music and dance.
As a bandleader, Jonathan has studied the authentic sound of the Swing-era, and how that differs from the styles of jazz that came before and after. Armed with this knowledge, Jonathan has given many musicality classes at dance events, using a live band to demonstrate the differences between Swing, pre-Swing Jazz, and post-Swing straight-ahead jazz.
As a student of the era, Jonathan has also branched out to study swing drumming, based on fourteen years of first-hand observations of only the best Swing drummers, Josh Collazo, Hal Smith, Brooks Tegler, Russ Wilson and Paul Lines. Jonathan has played drums for The Careless Lovers, Casey MacGill, Janet Klein, Falty and Friends, Stompy Jones, Dean Mora, Dave Stuckey, and Carl Sonny Leyland, as well as filling-in occasionally in the Campus Five and Orchestra. He most recently played drums on Janet Klein's 2015 CD "It's the Girl", using his 1941 Leedy drum set.
Jonathan has also DJed at swing dance events, including Camp Hollywood, Lindy Groove, and Camp Jitterbug. When DJing, Jonathan brings the same focus on authentic Swing music and unmatched danceability.
Hilary Alexander
Photo by Lisa Johnson
Hilary Alexander is the co-bandleader and vocalist for all of the bands in the Campus Five family. Hilary was raised as the daughter of Jazz pianist and a Brazilian samba dancer. She attended NewYork City’s Professional Children’s School, along with many child stars. Growing up, she was surrounded by the sounds of jazz vocalists Anita O’Day, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mae Morse, and Blossom Dearie. She brings an authentic smooth style in the spirit of her favorite vocalists. She has been a featured guest vocalist with the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra and Mora’s Modern Rhythmists.
As a dancer, Hilary was among the group of Los Angeles-area dancers that rediscovered Dean Collins-style Lindy Hop and Balboa in the late 1990’s. Growing out of her love of Swing dance, Hilary founded Camp Hollywood in 1998, and it has grown into one of the world’s premier Swing dance events, drawing over 1,000 dancers, including dancers from five continents and 30 countries. Camp Hollywood is celebrating its 19th year.
As a DJ, Hilary has spun at Lindy Groove, Camp Jitterbug, and Rusty’s Rhythm Club, as well as carefully handpicking only the best recorded competition music for all of the contests at Camp Hollywood.
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