Helping to make the 75th anniversary Danish Days festival alittle more special, the Aalborg Police Band from Solvang’s sistercity in Denmark brought its big band-style music to Solvang thisweekend for the first time since 2003. On Saturday and Sunday, the 20-member amateur band played inSolvang Park and also performed at Saturday night’s Rebild SocietyDinner Dance at the Veterans Memorial Building. All but one of the band’s musicians made the trip to Solvang aspart of a two-week stay in the United States that began Sept. 14,said Bjarne Frederiksen, a band member since 1982. Many of themusicians brought their wives, he said. “We have great fun being together, playing together,” saidFrederiksen, a trumpeter and the group’s treasurer. Frederiksen, a retired Aalborg policemen, said three of the bandmembers are police officers and the rest have other jobs. The bandis funded by subscription from all active members and most of theemployees at the Aalborg police force. They rehearse every Mondayevening at the Aalborg police station. The free performances in the park included swing-era classics fromCount Basie and Duke Ellington. Annette Hansen, who sang “OrangeColored Sky” and “For Once In My Life,” was the only woman amongthe band members. After Solvang, the band is slated to perform in Las Vegas and inAalborg’s other American sister city, Racine, Ill. They will alsovisit New York City for sightseeing. Dating back to 1920, the group originated with Aalborg policemenwho played string instruments. By 1934, the group borrowedinstruments from a military band and in January 1935, the “AalborgPoliti Orkester” was founded as a marching band with 14musicians. From 1936 to 1960, the band organized Christmas concerts forAalborg residents. In 1970, the group became a “big band.” The band has played for police and public functions in Denmark,Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, England, The Netherlands, Japanand the United States.