Local Quelbe musician Jamsie Brewster is headed for Denmark Saturday where he is slated to tour for two weeks with the Original Danish Polcalypso Orchestra.
This is the second time the Jamsie has played with the band. In 1995, the year after the Polcalypso Orchestra played St. Croix Carnival, "Jamsie" went to Denmark where he and the band were recorded live by Danish Public Radio. Also in 1995 the band's third album, "Polcalypso III," was recognized as number 30 on the European top-100 charts.
Twenty five years ago Jamsie and the Happy Seven was the most popular band in the Virgin Islands, according to Larry Braga, owner of Parrotfish Music, a major supplier of Caribbean music. Brewster was born in Frederiksted on St. Croix, but lives now on St. Thomas.
Polcalypso bandleader Kazio Kierpaul refers to Jamsie, who is 71, as the Grand Old Man of Polcalypso.
Polcalypso is described as traditional Danish music that fused with Calypso, and Kierpaul, is the man who introduced this crossover music to Europe.
The two-week tour starts Sept. 21 in Copenhagen and will include seven performances across Denmark. Jamsie will also offer a master class at the Music Academy in Odense. A live recording of the tour is also planned, according to Braga, who will be accompanying Jamsie on the tour.
VI Source Archive · 1998–2015