ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS BABIES 

We play events, clubs, parties, and have a special place for dancers. It's a dance music, and we work to follow that tradition. 

Our group works to present early styles for all audiences, in honor of the pioneers of jazz, Bolden, Oliver, Keppard, Bechet, Armstrong, Ory,  Ellington, Morton and so many others. Based in Tucson. Available for many events. Our cover photo is a portrait of Joe Oliver, whose leadership and artistry is a keystone for the development of jazz.

The group title was borrowed at our beginnings in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois where we first formed, led by Ron Dewar, with respect from one of the historic Social and Mutual Aid societies of New Orleans. 

The Mysterious Babies play for events, parties, dances, and ceremonials.  We try our best to play music from the early styles, respect to the founders and early masters.  Our name is that of an early social aid and benevolent society in New Orleans, the kind of which supported and grew the music and traditions. 

In the site photos, just a few of the artists who made this music are shown. The opening background is a photograph of Joe Oliver, one of the greatest and most influential of this pioneer generation. And subsequently "King" Oliver's Creole Band , pictured here with Louis Armstrong, Lil Hardin-Armstrong, Honore Dutre, Johnny and Warren "Baby" Dodds, Bill Johnson. Here also is Ferdinand "Jelly roll" Morton, and the grainy photo the only one of the pioneer small jazz band led by Charles "Buddy" Bolden in a group poster from the great year playing weekly at the CENTURY ROOM in the Congress Hotel in Tucson, Arizona. 

Guy Senese, organizer, cornet and soprano saxophone, and vocals, played guitar-banjo as a charter member of the Memphis Nighthawks,. He learned cornet from the Chicago area cornetist Ed "Doc" Kittrell, who played following the lead cornet styles of Joe Oliver, George Mitchell, Natty Dominique.  Ron Dewar, master clarinet and saxophone player, who began playing with Kittrell in 1975, recognized the greatness of this early music and was a mentor to so many other musicians.