The new album is a quartet affair – Mindlin with bassist Simón Wilson (known for his work with Ethan Iverson) and drummer Jonas Esser playing Mindlin tunes and featuring the ultra melodicism of acclaimed tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens.
Mindlin’s earlier album recorded back on home turf in London featured distinguished drummer James Maddren and was issued by the Catalan label Fresh Sound New Talent in 2023.
The addition of saxophone in the By Water sound palette suits him well and is something of a departure.
There’s a rich stream of UK jazz guitar talent around at the moment, notably heard on the new Karim Saber Sundance and on new work by Tom Ollendorff, a melodic player whose sound sits well with Mindlin’s while the brilliant godfather of UK jazz guitar right now Ant Law is more of a match with Saber’s approach. But they all stand on the shoulders of giants of UK jazz guitar like John Etheridge of Soft Machine, John Parricelli, Phil Robson, Jim Mullen and Nigel Price.
