in the swing
Django Reinhardt pilgrimage inspires father-son band
Words by Rob Dalton
Photos by Benjamin Fry
Ranger Sciacca
If you’re a local, you’ve probably heard of Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers,” a band built around the father-son duo of Mike and Ranger Sciacca. Specializing in Hot Club Swing—the effervescent jazz style pioneered by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli—Ranger’s ensemble blends tradition with invention, creating a sound at once timeless and fresh.
“I grew up on Bainbridge studying fiddle music with Stuart Williams,” Ranger says. “But I was always attracted to improvisation. Stuart called me ‘Ranger the rearranger’ because I never wanted to play the same way twice.”
Williams introduced Ranger to swing music, laying the foundation for a lifelong pursuit. “The rhythm and joy of Django and Grappelli—it’s infectious. Even their minor-key songs have an incredible vitality,” Ranger explains. “No one improvised like Django.”
Mike took Ranger to these early violin lessons and found himself equally captivated by the genre, also known as “Gypsy Jazz.” “We learned together,” Mike says. “We explored as a team, and it’s been a journey of shared discovery ever since.”
“Sometimes we’d split my music lesson and Stuart would show my dad how to accompany me on certain tunes,” Ranger remembers.
“I’d take his lessons when he was sick,” Mike laughs.
“And performing was always part of it,” Ranger says. “We started playing at garden and studio tours on the island when I was just nine years old.”
After Ranger graduated from high school in 2005, he and his dad went on a pilgrimage to the Django Reinhardt festival in Samois-sur-Seine, France. “We witnessed some of the biggest acts in the world,” Ranger recalls. “We did a lot of jamming at that festival, then traveled around Europe playing music. Coming home from the trip, we decided we have got to make a band playing this style. That’s where it all started.”
Within six months they played their first show at Pegasus Coffee House. “It was exciting,” Ranger recalls. “It felt like we really had something special.”
Mike agrees: “We hadn’t yet played together as a full band, so it was our first jam together as “The Re-Arrangers.” The gig exceeded all expectations.”
The band’s unique sound—a blend of swing standards, traditional European melodies, Django Reinhardt’s music, and original compositions—quickly captured hearts on Bainbridge. By the following summer, the band was playing all over the region.
“Community support has been hugely instrumental in the band’s success,” Ranger says. “It’s inspiring and financially supportive. It lets us keep doing the thing we love.”
This symbiotic relationship has shaped the band’s evolution. The “Re-Arrangers” frequently feature special guests in performances—a practice that has become part of their DNA. “We’ve had at least 100 different people play with us,” Mike notes, “and we play more than 100 gigs a year.”
As they approach their 20th year together, The “Re-Arrangers” show no signs of slowing down. With a new album entitled “Hot Club Swing” set for release this year and a calendar packed with local performances, they continue to captivate audiences “from Vancouver to Portland and from Ellensburg to Port Angeles,” as Ranger tells it.
At the heart of the band is the unique father-son relationship between Ranger and Mike. “It’s not that no one ever gets their feelings hurt, but we know there’s no chance a disagreement could ever break up the band,” Ranger explains.
For Ranger, now a father himself, the band represents more than music. “The biggest influence of being in this band with my dad is the time we get to spend together.”
“I’ve watched him grow from an infant to a man, from a beginner to a virtuoso,” Mike adds. “Seeing him grow has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.”
Looking ahead, The “Re-Arrangers” remain committed to their roots. “We love being a regional band,” Ranger says. “I’ve got a baby now, and we’re all about balancing music with life. We want to spend less time driving and more time playing.”
Catch their upcoming performances at Rolling Bay Winery on Bainbridge Island on August 10 & 23, 1 - 3 p.m., at the Port Orchard Night Market on August 16, 6:30 - 8 p.m., and at Swing Dance! at Bainbridge Island Rowing Center on August 22, 7:30-9:30 pm.
Mike Sciacca