Sean McGowan’s playing and arranging are world class. My Fair Lady delivers with beauty, imagination, and stunning technique.Fingerstyle Guitar Journal

Exploring the possibilities of solo jazz guitar, recording with no overdubs, McGowan achieves a warm, intimate tone from his Brad Nickerson Solstice, as he mines the rich potential of Lerner and Loewe classics from the memorable play and movie. The uptempo “I’m Getting Married In The Morning” kicks things off, with an ostinato bass set against the familiar melody, giving the impression of two guitarists. McGowan even “gives the bass man some,” with a walking solo before “the guitarist” takes off on a single-note flight, bringing Joe Pass’ Virtuoso albums to mind.If this is your introduction to McGowan, you’ll likely catch up on his back catalog and anxiously await his next outing.Vintage Guitar magazine

My Fair Lady presents eight pieces from Lerner and Lowe’s 1956 iconic musical, which producer Jack Warner produced for film in 1964. McGowan performs solo in a style reminiscent of Lenny Breau and Martin Taylor, using an amplified archtop guitar built by Brad Nickerson. An uptempo rendition of “Get Me to the Church On Time” begins the set with McGowan playing bell-like harmonics. After playing the theme in a chord melody style, he breaks into walking bass, followed by bop-influenced single lines, later returning to the chord melody statement and closing with syncopated chords played over a pedal bass. “On The Street Where You Live” follows, propelled nicely by another walking bass. Other favorites of mine are “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” and “Show Me”, the latter played in a spare but moving rubato arrangement. Sean McGowan displays broad inventiveness in the solo jazz idiom. Also, his tone and execution are masterful. All of this adds up to a very enjoyable recording.Minor 7^th

It’s a gutsy move to cover Monk’s music with just your guitar and no overdubs, but McGowan is more than up to the task. Don’t let the solo guitar label fool you, he swings hard on “Blue Monk” and “Rhythm-A-Ning.” Monk’s classic “Round Midnight” gets a gorgeous treatment, starting with shimmering harmonics. A true guitar showcase.Vintage Guitar magazine

Sphere ranks among the very best solo jazz guitar records I have ever come across. McGowan’s arrangements are fresh and innovative…it is amazing to hear how full he sounds as one guitar player, adding layers of beautiful harmonies and a driving bass, never allowing the listener to miss another instrument. Right from the start listeners know they are in the presence of greatness.Just Jazz Guitar magazine

McGowan is exquisitely tasteful throughout, remaining true to the melodies while adding colorful textures, including harp-like interludes and occasional sprinklings of dissonance. There’s an intimate feel to the CD that’s quite appealing, and the consistency of tone and mood creates an ambience that’s both lovely and luminous. McGowan has created an immensely pleasing CD, a work of art that allows both himself and Monk to shine.All About Jazz

It takes a lot of brass to tackle the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk, the creative giant whose idiosyncratic piano playing and composing reshaped the sound and texture of modern jazz. And when the musician attempting this feat is a solo guitarist, well, that makes the challenge even more daunting.On Sphere, fingerstyle jazz guitarist Sean McGowan proves he’s up to the task.Premier Guitar magazine

Few pleasures equal that of watching a gifted musician hit the track and just sail on out there. You’ll hear a lot of tradition in Sean McGowan’s guitar: Christian, Burrell, Farlow, Pass. You’ll also hear the sound of a musician finding the groove…his groove.James Sallis, author of The Guitar Players: One Instrument and Its Masters in American Music

Really stunning…a non-guitarist will never realize just how much is going on, but we guitarists will constantly ask ourselves, ‘How did he do that’?Just Jazz Guitar magazine

Though he is not a household name in the guitar world, he definitely deserves to be. His sense of harmony and amazing technique are world class – he is an inspiration to any serious guitarist.Fingerstyle Guitar magazine

Playing the blues, standards, or bebop anthems, fiery 16th-note lines or suspended harmonic constructs, Sean McGowan has found his niche amongst the best jazz guitar soloists. He is to be commended for simultaneously averring the stylistic elements of the tradition while developing tasteful ways to circumvent technical requisites. In fact, he may very well be considered one of the most dignified successors of Lenny Breau’s ill-fated legacy. In any event, whether savoured with a creamy draught, or a comforting single malt whiskey, Indigo shall tame the thirst of those longing for a good ole’ solo jazz guitar showcase.All About Jazz