The Campus Five

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander is the nation’s premier swing dance bands. Showcasing the small-group sound of the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, the Campus Five is the most danceable swing band anywhere. The 7-piece Campus Five captures the true sound of the Swing-era, with all the energy and excitement that inspired millions to dance. Influences include the Benny Goodman Sextet, Artie Shaw's Grammercy Five, Count Basie's Kansas City Six, and the Harlem-based small groups of Illinois Jacquet, Cootie Williams, Coleman Hawkins, and Hot Lips Page.

Both founders (Hilary and Jonathan) have been dedicated Swing dancers for over 25 years, and the relationship between Swing music and Swing dance informs all aspects of the Campus Five. Song selection, tempo, song length and feel are all chosen with danceability in mind. The Campus Five’s five albums, “Jammin’ the Blues” (2003), “Crazy Rhythm” (2004), “Moppin’ and Boppin’” (2007), “Spreadin’ Rhythm Around” (2016), and “Hummin’ to Myself” (2021), are favorites of Swing DJs and Swing Dance Instructors all over the globe. The Campus Five have been featured at many of the premier Swing dance events around the world, and are known for their unparalleled competition music, which inspires dancers to new heights.

The Campus Five has been featured on ABC's "The Bachelorette" (2016), and on Warner Brothers TV's "Ellen" (2004).

Here’s a partial list of the swing dance events the Campus Five have been featured at:

Frankie 95 (NYC)
Camp Hollywood / National Jitterbug Championship (Los Angeles) 
International Lindy Hop Championships (Washington, DC)
Lindy Focus (Asheville, NC)
Lindy Shock (Budapest, Hungary)
Lindy Blossom Weekend (Seoul, S. Korea)
California Balboa Classic (Costa Mesa, CA)
All Balboa Weekend (Cleveland, OH)
Beantown Swing Camp (Boston)
DCLX (Washington, DC) 
Chase Festival (Heidelberg, Germany)
World Jam (Madrid, Spain)
Austin Lindy Exchange (Austin, TX)
London Balboa Festival (London, UK) 
Great Southwest Lindyfest (Houston, TX) 
Camp Jitterbug (Seattle, WA) 
Inspiration Weekend (Orange, CA)
Stompology (Rochester, NY)
Lindy on the Rocks (Denver, CO)
Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout (Denver, CO)

Lastly, the Campus Five and our other bands also play regularly for corporate, municipal, festival, private and wedding clients, including: IBM, NBC, ABC, Pacific Life, Speedo, Los Angeles Music Center, Culver City Music Festival, Jazz at the Paseo (Pasadena), Ventura Lemon Fest, Ventura Music Festival, Loyola Marymount University, Loyola Law School, University of Southern California, Sweet and Hot Jazz Festival (Los Angeles), Orange County Classic Jazz Festival