Afropop Worldwide Quelbe - Hidden Treasure of the Caribbean
Nov 21, 2025
Stanley Jacobs, a Crucian flute player and leader of Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, joins Dimitri (Pikey) Copeman, saxophonist and leader of the Renaissance Band. They explore the vibrant tradition of Quelbe music from St. Croix, discussing its energetic sound and cultural significance. Jacobs shares stories about preserving Quelbe's heritage, while Copeman details his work documenting songs and interviewing elders. They emphasize the importance of teaching Quelbe in schools, ensuring that future generations experience this rich, lively musical tradition.
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Stanley's Early Musical Memory
- Stanley Jacobs learned music from hearing late-night drumming and quadrille bands near his childhood home by the fort.
- He made his own fife and recorded old-school masquerade music in the 1970s to keep tradition alive.
Blinky And Brewster's Legacy
- Blinky McIntosh and James C. Brewster sustained the sax-and-banjo quelbe style from the 1960s onward.
- Their songs tell local stories, like La Bigga Carousel, critiquing an exploited laborer relationship with a Puerto Rican carousel owner.
Pikey's Preservation Mission
- Dimitri (Pikey) Copeman discovered quelbe in the 1970s and recorded elders' songs to prevent them from vanishing.
- He interviewed his grandfather and father to capture lyrics and history that lacked formal documentation.