Jazz guitarist Sean McGowan returns to Bowdoin Saturday to perform as the third part of the music department's mini-series on guitar. McGowan is a former jazz guitar instructor at the College and is currently the Assistant Professor of Music Performance at the University of Colorado—Denver. He is known for his work as a fingerstyle jazz and acoustic guitarist and is noted for the way in which it synthesizes "many diverse influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar."
Much of McGowan's recent exploration as an artist has been in the realm of traditional solo jazz guitar while still incorporating elements of improvisation. In his exploration of the 20th-century solo jazz guitar movement, McGowan studied guitar legends, notably Joe Pass, Tuck Andress and Earl Klugh. In Friday's concert, McGowan will play pieces by noted artists such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington.
The second half of the concert will consist of McGowan's own original material, the majority of which comes from his 2008 album, "Indigo." Juxtaposing the work of jazz guitar legends with his own compositions demonstrates the way that the artists interacts with and draws inspiration from his predecessors.
McGowan will be performing Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Studzinski Recital Hall. Additionally, McGowan will be offering a jazz guitar workshop on Friday, April 16 in Gibson 206. The workshop is open to all guitarists in the Bowdoin community and all attendees are invited to bring a piece to play or just observe.
-Compiled by Hannah Hoyt.