Ranger & the Re-Arrangers: Home
“Ranger Sciacca is a twenty year-old gypsy jazz fiddle phenom from Bainbridge Island and he’s hitting the big time with both feet running.” Victory Music Review (Feb. 2007)
Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” hail from the Seattle area and play “Gypsy jazz” or “hot jazz,” an upbeat style created in the 1930’s by Django Reinhardt and other European string players who embraced American jazz. The band’s repertoire appeals to everyone who enjoys swing standards, traditional Gypsy jazz songs, and world music originals. The band features young violin “phenom” Ranger, whose creative, syncopated leads complement the band’s steady, swinging rhythms.
AWARDS & HONORS
The band's debut CD has won several accolades and awards!
Finalist, Independent Music Awards (2007), Best Song, World Traditional Category
Winner, Global Rhythm Magazine Song Contest, Gypsy Moon (April 2007)
CALENDAR
Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” have played at festivals, weddings, coffeehouses, and other venues in Washington State since 2006. We list our performances here as soon as they are booked, so check back soon!
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
May 30, Friday, 8 PM, The Global Bean in Silverdale, WA
May 31, Saturday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Bainbridge Farmer's Market
June 6, Friday, 8 PM. The Island Gallery, Bainbridge Island, Jazz Series
June 8, Sunday, 4 to 5 PM, Blessing of the Fleet, Gig Harbor, WA
June 18, Wednesday, 6 to 8 PM, Trader Vic's, Bellevue, WA
June 19, Thursday, 6 to 8 PM, Trader Vic's Restaurant, Bellevue
June 20, Friday, 2:00 to 4:15 PM, Sorticulture Fair, Everett, WA
June 28, Saturday, 3 PM, International Festival, SeaTac, WA
June 29, Sunday, 10 AM, La Conner Street Fair
July 4, Friday, 3:30 PM, Grand Old Fourth Celebration, Bainbridge Island Waterfront Park
July 5, Saturday, 1:30 to 2:30 PM, Music in the Park, Buck Lake Community Center, Hansville, WA
July 13, Sunday, Pike Place Market, Chukar Cherries 20th Anniversary Bash, Time TBA
July 19, Saturday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Bainbridge Farmer's Market
July 26, Saturday, time TBA, Ethnic Fest, Tacoma
August 3, Sunday, 4:30 PM, Farmstock Art & Music Expo, Bainbridge Island, (followed by that great Gypsy Jazz band, Pearl Django)
August 8, Friday, Wedding, Seattle, WA
August 9, Saturday, 10:30 AM, Poulsbo Farmers Market
August 14, Thursday, 6 to 8 PM, North Bend Farmer's Market
August 16, Saturday, 7:30 to 10 PM Crossroads Mall, Bellevue, WA
August 17, Sunday, 2:00 to 3:00 PM, Poulsbo Arts & Crafts, Waterfront Gazebo
August 23, Saturday, 1:30-4:30 PM, Private Party, Bainbridge Island
August 24, Sunday, 4:30 PM, Wedding, Farm Kitchen, Poulsbo
August 30, Saturday, The Island Gallery, Bainbridge Island, Jazz Series, 7:30 PM
AND IN 2009!!!!!!!!!!!
April 17, 2009, Friday, 9 PM, Whitman College, Reid Campus, Walla Walla, WA
RECORDINGS
Gypsy Moon (2006), 14 songs, self-published
Oasis Jazz #4 (2006), “Nightcrawler” Tr. 18
Global Rhythm Magazine (April 2007)
PRESS QUOTES
“Gypsy Moon is a polished, wholly-thought-out work that puts [Ranger] solidly in the company of the best of the Northwest’s formidable ‘Django scene’…The young man has arrived.” Victory Review (February 2007)
“A young talent with an old soul” Bainbridge Review (May 2006)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Ranger’s performances and compositions reflect his extensive studies in classical, jazz, and folk music. His Suzuki teacher, Alice Kanack, publishes books and CDs on improvising classical music. Ranger also studied folk and dance music for 7 years with renowned Seattle fiddler Stuart Williams. Ranger’s main influences include guitarist Django Reinhardt and jazz violin greats Stuff Smith, Claude Williams and Stephane Grappelli. Ranger is currently a student at Whitman College, where he has studied jazz theory and history.
Michael Sciacca, Ranger’s dad, has been his rhythm guitarist for 10 years; they have performed as a swing jazz duo since 2001. Bassist Todd Houghton has had an extensive career in performing, teaching, and producing music. Todd is an advisor to Jack Straw Production’s Blind Youth Audio Project and has hosted an “open mic” on Bainbridge Island, Washington since 1993. Percussionist Jeffrey Moose has a 30 year career in both music and fine art. His collaborations and band projects include work with Joined at the Head, Heliotroupe, Dog Superior, Stiff Kitty, Atoke, Zayah Emmanuel, and Sam Andrews, founder of Big Brother and the Holding Company. He is currently director of Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle. Mandolin player Dave Stewart is a classically-trained pianist.
REPERTOIRE
The band plays traditional Gypsy melodies, swing standards, the music of Django Reinhardt, and Ranger’s originals – in an upbeat, “Gypsy jazz” style. Victory Review said recently that Ranger’s originals “…reflect a precocious understanding of the genre and an inspired passion for it.” In addition to dozens of Ranger’s originals, typical tunes include:
After You’ve Gone (Creamer & Layton 1919)
All of Me (Simons & Marks 1931)
Autumn Leaves (Joseph Kosma 1945)
Blue Skies (Irving Berlin 1926)
Beatrice (Traditional - Italian)
Charmaine (Rapee & Pollack 1927)
Dark Eyes (Traditional - Gypsy) Doin' the Uptown Lowdown (Ravel/Gordon 1933)
Douce Ambiance (Django Reinhardt 1941)
Emma (Traditional - American)
Flamingo (Grouya/Anderson 1941)
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Fields/McHugh 1928)
I Found a New Baby (Palmer/Williams 1926)
I’ll See You in My Dreams (Kahn/Jones 1924)
Kansas City Kitty (Leslie/Donaldson 1929)
Minor Swing Django/Grappelli (1937)
My Blue Heaven (Donaldson/Whiting 1927)
Oh, Lady Be Good ( G/I Gershwin 1924)
Sweet Georgia Brown (Pinkard/Casey 1925)
Stuart’s Song (Stuart Williams ca. 2001)
Undecided (Shavers/Robin 1937)
Walk Don’t Run (Johnny Smith 1954)
FOR BOOKING
Phone: Michael Sciacca (206) 842-7652
Ranger (206) 418-9614
Website: http://www.rangerswings.com
Email: info@rangerswings.com
PLACES WE'VE PLAYED IN 2008
April 26, 2008 (Saturday) North Helpline Food Bank, Lake City Community Center, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Call for reservations: 206-367-3477
April 4, 2008 (Friday) Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 9pm-11pm
March 28, 2008 (Friday) ACT Theatre, Seattle, 9:30pm
March 27, 2008 (Thursday) Trader Vic's, Bellevue, 6pm-8pm
March 20, 2008, Thursday Trader Vic's, Bellevue, 6pm-8pm
March 15, 2008, Saturday, Benefit Concert, Island Center Hall, Bainbridge Island
March 13, 2008, Thursday, Trader Vic's, Bellevue 6pm-8pm
February 23, 2008, Saturday, The Mix, Georgetown (Seattle) 8:00 pm
January 12, 2008 Saturday, Haller Lake Arts Council, Snohomish, 8PM
PLACES WE PLAYED IN 2007
Dec 21, Crepe de Paris, Rainier Plaza, Seattle, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Nov 24 Pegasus Coffeehouse, Saturday, Bainbridge Island, WA 7:30pm
Nov 2 -3 Far-West Regional Meeting of the Folk Alliance, Vancouver, WA.
Nov. 1st, Thursday, Jeffery Moose Gallery, Seattle (Ranier Square) with Neil Anderson of Pearl Django. 5:30 to 7:30
September 29, Saturday, Rhythms on the Lake, Lake Chelan, 4 PM
September 8, Saturday, Wedding, Leavenworth, WA
August 25, Saturday, Wedding, Poulsbo, WA
August 25, Saturday, Waterfront Park Bainbridge Island 3:30 PM
August 24, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
August 4, Saturday, Moxee Hop Festival, Moxee, WA, 1 PM
August 3, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
July 29, Sunday, Bellevue Arts & Crafts, 5 pm
July 28, Saturday, Gapsody Music Festival, Union Gap(Yakima), 1 PM
July 27, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
July 11, Wednesday, Reception, Kent Cornucorpia Days, 6:30 PM
July 7, Saturday, Wedding, Bainbridge Island, 7 PM
July 6, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
July 4, Wednesday, Lemolo Parade 9am
July 4, Wednesday, Bainbridge Island Parade Noon
July 3, Tuesday, Grand Old Fourth Celebration, Bainbridge Island, 6 to 8:30 pm
July 3, Aprez Fireworks Dance, Poulsbo Gazebo, 10:30 pm
July 1, Sunday, Private party, Bainbridge Island, 4 to 7 PM
June 30, Saturday, Bainbridge Farmer’s Market, 9:30 to 1 PM
June 29, Friday, Taste of Tacoma, Pt Defiance Rose Garden, 1 PM to 2 PM
June 29, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
June 22, Friday, Rock Bottom Brew Pub, 5:30 to 7:30 pm