The Rag Messengers

The Rag Messengers: The young trio bringing Ascona back to the roots of jazz

Beloved by audiences, the trio has long been part of the JazzAscona family! Born from the meeting of drummer Ophélie Luminati, clarinetist Ezequiel Celada, and pianist Auguste Caron, The Rag Messengers explore the repertoire of early jazz with freshness and vitality. The lineup – piano, clarinet, and drums – echoes that of the first ensembles in the clubs of New Orleans and the prohibition-era in Harlem. Their music follows in the footsteps of Jelly Roll Morton, the stride pianists of the 1920s and 1930s, Baby Dodds, and the young Duke Ellington. While the historical repertoire takes center stage, the trio also presents original compositions that play with the codes of the era, capturing the energy and humor of jazz’s pioneers. Nearly a century later, this music has lost none of its vitality.