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2006 Release. 2006 Release. The group Hectic Watermelon is the fresh expression of guitarist-composer, John Czajkowski, and the band’s new album, The Great American Road Trip, is an intensely colorful, and nuanced smorgasbord of “post-Zappa commando-fusion.” Czajkowski formed the power trio with musical partners Darren DeBree and Harley Magsino on drums and bass to deliver an album of new compositions reflecting classic sensibilities while breaking new ground. The legendary fusion pioneer, Jerry Goodman, joins the lineup on electric violin and is featured on 9 of the 11 tracks. Czajkowski adds, “Jerry’s amazing playing added a whole new level of intensity and passion to the album.” Additional guests include Brian Kahanek, Scott Lerner, and Kevin Freeby - who all play on one track each. Experiencing the debut album, The Great American Road Trip, the listener is treated to a nostalgic retrospective that draws from the American jazz-rock tradition of the past four decades with an ambitious new compositional direction. Czajkowski relates, “My aim has been to write and produce an album that has more dimension than a blazing mainstream guitar-oriented album. I wanted to create a rich and artful collection of music that attempts to build bridges between both high- and low-status types of music that I identify with as an American musician and music lover, but which are often at odds with one another amongst artists, listeners and critics.” The resulting album is a palette of deep compositions that draw idioms ranging from classical, jazz and fusion to progressive rock, bluegrass, and metal.
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