Ned Jazz & Wine hosts Pop-Up festival: The Rob Mullins Trio treated the crowd to their own interpretations of classic jazz tunes from Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Sweet Sue’s was packed wall-to-wall with wine lovers and jazz aficionados for the one-of-a-kind Pop-Up event. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER KELLEY[/caption]

For one night only there was a place in Nederland that transformed into a 1940s era speakeasy. A dimly lit, almost clandestine-like atmosphere, where the hip and adventurous could gather to indulge in the pinnacle of class and culture. Libations and culinary creations were served while a jazz trio transformed the dark dungeon into a cathedral of Cool.

It was the Nederland Jazz & Wine Pop-Up, an event created and organized by Stephanie Andelman. The Pop-Up celebrated the spirit of the Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival within Sweet Sue’s on 35 East 1st Street. On December 4, 2022, Sweet Sue’s became a classic jazz club, transitioning from serving juice and smoothies to serving choice wines from Settembre Cellars and providing live jazz performed by the Rob Mullins Trio.

Guests arrived at the dark jazz club at 5:30 p.m. to be seated and given their tickets for a free six-ounce pour of Settembre wine. Quickly the room filled up with socialites and sophisticates, some of which were dressed up for the occasion, calling back to a time when such jazzy evenings out were a classy affair.

Andelman, who had surgery to have her appendix removed just the night before, welcomed the crowd and introduced the evening’s entertainment. Contemporary jazz musician Rob Mullins, a 30 year veteran in the jazz world and Grammy nominated artist for “Soulscape”, led his Rob Mullins Trio on keys and filled the room with swirling, improvisational renditions of jazz staples, as well as smooth, creative versions of out-of-the-norm hits. With Bijoux Barbosa on bass and Liam Zahm on drums, the Rob Mullins Trio treated the throng of aficionados in attendance to their unique adaptations of 1950s Hard Bop era Miles Davis, and early Herbie Hancock.

Guests began to line up to Sweet Sue’s gorgeous bar for their second and third glasses of wine as the band continued to provide the perfect accompaniment, playing hits from 1970s soul artist Bill Withers such as “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Just the Two of Us”. The music paired well with the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Settembre Cellars. The Boulder based winery, owned and operated by Blake and Tracy Eliasson, began producing their handcrafted wines in 2007. They have proudly supplied such similar events as the Jazz & Wine Pop-Up with their lovingly made wines, and will be gladly returning to Nederland for the 2nd Annual Jazz & Wine Festival on August 19, 2023.

Settembre provided the Pop-Up with a 2015 Chardonnay, a 2016 Cabernet Franc, a 2013 Syrah, the aforementioned Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Settembre’s pourers hurriedly popped open bottle after bottle as the event continued. Guests were also tantalized by Settembre Cellars’ $99 holiday packs and individual gift wrapped bottles.

The Jazz & Wine Pop-Up delivered yet another perfect pairing to go with the silky wine and sumptuous jazz, which was a selection of inspired and stylish appetizers provided by Decent Bagel. A goat cheese and cherry crostini topped with crispy prosciutto, a caramelized onion and butternut squash tart, and a crispy, cheesy Arancini were just some of the options of appetizers being passed amongst the crowd.

The Rob Mullins Trio brought the holiday spirit to the room with two highly recognizable and nostalgic pieces by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, featured on the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Shortly after, Andelman announced the winners of the evening’s raffle and handed out such prizes as jazz and wine themed books from pop-up bookstore Talking Sparrows, tickets to Denver’s premier jazz venue Dazzle, a selection of Rob Mullins albums, and tickets to the 2nd Annual Jazz & Wine Festival on August 19, 2023.

The Jazz & Wine Pop-Up brought cool vibes with great food, drink, music, and atmosphere. Sweet Sue’s transformed beautifully in the heady haze of wine and jazz, illuminated soulfully by candles and neon. One can’t help but walk away excited for the next experience provided by Andelman and the Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival.