The Candy Jacket Jazz Band is comprised of some of the best swing practitioners in the United States. Since forming in 2016, they have successfully forged their own path through the modern day “vintage” jazz scene.

The group, led by composer/arranger/drummer – Josh Collazo, prides itself on performing original compositions in a style that is reminiscent of the famous jazz & swing artists of the 1930’s & 1940’s. Tight arrangements, clever hooks, and a heavy dose of swing allows the bands signature sound to shine brightly through. No carbon copies here though – just solid playing filled with musicality, skill, respect, and deep knowledge of jazz history to build upon.

Thanks to a loyal fan base, The Candy Jacket Jazz Band has had the pleasure of performing at many national events, such as Lindy Focus, The International Lindy Hop Championships, DCLX, and The Redwood Coast Music Festival. A few highlights include headlining at The Wiltern Theater (LA), Swingin’ at the Savoy (SF), and The 2017 San Diego Jazz Festival.

With much success, The Candy Jacket Jazz Band recently released their sophomore album, Unstuck in Time. They also released an original holiday single, “Christmas Time in Los Angeles”, which features the wonderful vocals of Dave Stuckey.

The Candy Jacket Jazz Band is:

• Albert Alva – Tenor Saxophone
• Nate Ketner – Alto Saxophone/Clarinet
• Dan Weinstein – Trombone/Vocals
• Corey Gemme – Cornet
• Chris Dawson – Piano
• Jonathan Stout – Guitar
• Seth Ford-Young – Bass
• Josh Collazo – Drums/Vocals​

Photo credit: Mark Thomas

The Pino Noir Quartet is a firey concoction of swing, blended with equal parts unpredictability and classic style. Led by Los Angeles guitarist Luca Pino, the band presents a faithful ode to the lesser-known era of mid 40’s Django Reinhardt. Fronted by an electrically amplified acoustic guitar, the Quartet performs arrangements of obscure, often not played original music by Django Reinhardt, along with selected jazz favorites that represent the same early Parisian ambiance.

Whether the band is hot or sweet, the electrifying swing of the Pino Noir Quartet will have dancers and fans of obscure jazz alike on their toes – and feet!

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander is the nation’s premier swing dance band. 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 are dedicated swing dancers, 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 three albums, “Jammin’ the Blues”, “Crazy Rhythm”, and “Moppin’ and Boppin’”, 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.

Photo credit: Bernard Serrano

Dave Stuckey hates talking about himself in the third person. Nevertheless, the fact remains that he has been playing music in and around Los Angeles going on 30 years now. Along the way he’s been around the world, sharing the stage with rockabilly legends & traditional/swing jazz hotshots and, while performing, writing, recording & producing, has generally managed to create a wide-ranging ruckus. Rhythm is his business – and business is swell.

Dave Stuckey & The Hot House Gang is a hard-swinging, take-no-prisoners aggregation, playing the standards and not-so-standards from the 1920’s & 30s …and whose main objective is to bring the heat, get you outta your seat,and provoke you to move your feet.

Bringing with him a Murderer’s Row of torrid trad jazz operators from the wilds of Los Angeles, Stuckey’s outfit channels an Eddie Condon small-group drive with jiving vocals that might conjure thoughts of Wingy Manone or Fats Waller.

Calling all cats – that stuff is here and it’s anything but mellow!

The Jonathan Stout Orchestra, featuring Hilary Alexander is the nation’s premier swing dance big band. Like an upsized version of the Campus Five, the Orchestra showcases the big band sound of the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, and is the most danceable big band anywhere. The 15-piece Orchestra captures the unmatched excitement and true rhythmic pulse of the Swing-era. The band follows the templates of Benny Goodman and Count Basie – orchestras that are aggressive and tight, and filled with all-star soloists that bring the fire on every song, regardless of tempo.

The Orchestra was founded because promoters demanded a full big band that was as danceable and exciting as the Campus Five. Jonathan and Hilary responded with a big band that was designed to be the ultimate swing dance orchestra. Like the Campus Five, the Orchestra has the true the sound and feel of the Swing-era, because that is what makes real Swing music so danceable in the first place.

The Orchestra has been featured at Swing dance events across the country: (partial list)

• Camp Hollywood / National Jitterbug Championships (Los Angeles)
• The International Lindy Hop Championships (Washington, D.C.)
• Lindy Focus (Asheville, N.C.)
• Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center (NYC)
• Rhythmic Arts Festival (San Diego)
• All Balboa Weekend (Cleveland)

Festival and municipal events have included: Sweet and Hot Jazz Festival, Culver City Music Festival, Downtown Anaheim Summer Music Festival.