Gypsy jazz swings into Island Music Guild Hall

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, May 24, 2006

It started out innocently enough: a young Bainbridge lad named Ranger wanted to play violin, so he began taking classical lessons with a respected teacher with the nickname “Mozart’s mother.”

But then he got a little older and took lessons from a fiddler, Stuart Williams. The bearded musician from Seattle introduced the impressionable youth to the jazz classic, “Oh Lady Be Good,” and Ranger Sciacca was hooked.

After several years of honing his gypsy jazz skills by playing with his father, guitarist Michael Sciacca, and others, Ranger Sciacca is set to release his debut CD, titled simply “Gypsy Moon.” It features Sciacca and the Re-Arrangers performing seven classic gypsy jazz tunes and seven of Sciacca’s original compositions.

Sciacca, 19, cites as influences, of course, the father of gypsy jazz, guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as violinists Stephane Grapelli and Joe Venuti.

Joining Sciacca in The Re-Arrangers are father Michael on guitar, Jherek Bischoff on standup bass and Korum Bischoff on drums.

“My dad and I aim for a pretty straight retro swing groove when we play our separate gigs, but Korum’s drums and Jherek’s bass help us generate more of a ‘voodoo’ dance mood,” he said.

Sciacca celebrates the release of his first CD at a party and dance set for 7 p.m. May 27 at Island Music Guild Hall, 10598 Valley Rd., Bainbridge Island.

The concert is sponsored by the Guild, an association of musicians and music teachers, and is free.

Following the main performance by Sciacca and The Re-Arrangers, several area musicians will make guest appearances.

“We want one of those famous Bainbridge dance jams to erupt — at least that’s what we’re hoping for,” Sciacca said.