Nick Hempton, George DeLancey, Dan Aran
Biography Nick Hempton, George DeLancey, Dan Aran
Nick Hempton
is an alto and tenor saxophonist, playing swinging jazz music for the people. A veteran of the New York scene, he fills rooms big and small throughout the city, as well as concert halls and festivals around the world. His influences include the greats of the instrument — Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley — and his style is informed by a misspent youth playing R&B and ska in his native Australia.
Growing up on the mean streets of Sydney, Hempton and the jazz school system didn’t see eye to eye. He learned to play jazz the old-fashioned way: jam sessions at local clubs and late night practice sessions on Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge. After year at sea working on the cruise ships raised the funds for a flight, he touched down in New York City in January 2004.
From 2005 to 2016 Hempton led The Nick Hempton Band, performing in most of the major New York venues, as well as touring regionally and internationally. With this group, Hempton released four highly-praised studio albums: "Nick Hempton Band" (self-released, 2008); "The Business" (Posi-Tone, 2011); "Odd Man Out" (Posi-Tone, 2013); and in 2015, the innovative "Catch and Release," which was recorded and released track-by-track over the course of a year. This was followed by the pared-back "Trio Stonk" (SmallsLive, 2017), recorded live at New York’s famed Smalls Jazz Club.
In 2018, after years of flirting with the organ band format, Hempton recorded his sixth album, the organ quartet outing "Night Owl." Featuring renowned guitar ace Peter Bernstein, "Night Owl" harkens back to the classic ‘60s organ band sound. That album was such a gas, Hempton took the same band back to the same studio, and the hotly-anticipated follow-up "Slick" was released to much acclaim in November 2021.
George Delancey
A native of Cambridge, OH, and a student of such prestigious programs as the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Michigan State University Jazz Studies Program, where he studied under Rodney Whitaker. He toured nationally and internationally with the Larry Fuller Trio from 2017 to 2019, and has performed as a sideman with bandleaders including Wessell Anderson, Peter Bernstein, Bobby Broom, Tia Fuller, Philip and Winard Harper, Christian Howes, Willie Jones III, Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Russell Malone, Tomoko Omura, Johnny O'Neal, Houston Person, Ben Paterson, Jeremy Pelt, Bria Skonberg, as well as many others in New York and throughout the United States. He received a commission for a new composition for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, entitled "Charles," which was premiered on April 25, 2025 as part of JALC's "Contemporary Jazz Masterpieces" program. He is active nationally as a bandleader and educator, and has worked with programs including Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People, the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus, Christian Howes’ Creative Strings Workshop, and Keith Hall's Summer Drum Intensive.
"George DeLancey understands the entire scope and history of the bass, his playing reflects this and looks towards the future. As a composer, he is without a doubt, one of the most creative melodists of his generation." - Todd Stoll, Jazz at Lincoln Center - Education, Vice President
"Deploying exceptional players, DeLancey nevertheless commands the forefront; he's the driver here, pushing tunes... with zest and an unerring sense of drama. His solos are crystalline, his placement precise." - Carlo Wolff, Downbeat
"His command of the elements in harmony, melody, and rhythm is superb, and displays a sophisticated sense of swing, coupled with maturity in composition and arrangements." - James Nadal, All About Jazz
Dan Aran
has become one of the most sought after drummers in New York City. In the past two decades Dan has been Touring, recording and performing with artists such as Harry Whitaker, Natalie Merchant, Stacey Kent, Adam Birnbaum Trio, Kevin Mahogany, Peter Bernstein, Joe Magnarelli, Jon Davis Trio, Nick Hempton band, Wayne Tucker, Madeleine Peyroux, and many others.
Dan's debut recording as a leader "Breathing" (smalls records), was described as “Disarmingly pretty, pure in melodic focus." - All About Jazz. And as “One of the most beautiful recordings I have heard in a long time." – Pamela Espeland / Bebopified.
His latest recording "New York Family" is described by Downbeat Magazine as "a Fascinating recored". From playing 1920's music with The Michael Arenella Dreamland Orchestra, to Middle Eastern and Latin grooves with Itai Kriss's TELAVANA, Dan's versatility and ability to play different styles is what makes him unique. Dan's latest recording was described as a "Unique blend of Jazz, Latin Rhythms and Middle Eastern melodies" (Downbeat Magazine).
Aran's musical journey started in his hometown of Jerusalem. graduating from the Rubin Academy of Music high school, he was already a busy drummer in the local music scene, playing with a number of different groups including bassist Avishai Cohen’s Trio, the Amos Hoffman group, Omer Avital and Arnie Lawrence.
Dan continued his education at the New School University in New York City. He graduated in 2004 earning a BFA in performance and has been playing in major venues in the U.S, Europe, the Middle East and Asia ever since.
Dan Aran plays Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Canopus Drums, and Innovative Percussion sticks and brushes.
