Sensuous, funky grooves flowing in and out of free-form improvised sections, a sense of freedom within structure and a passion for making music. Overriding feelings of joy and discovery, a melding of talented musical personalities. Curious? Yeah, then you’re ready to see what atomic energy does to music… Within the span of 45 minutes, The Former Champions travel through several decades of sounds familiar to jazz, but with a delightful twist. Flowing through the spaces of jazz, pop, funk and soul, this album is a pulse-driven recording that’s made up of alternating two and three-way conversational interactions. Although saxophonist Mathew Zavitz leads much of the way, the sharply-oiled machine of Matt Walton (guitars), David Watkinson (bass) and Geoff Bakel (drums) work in combination to release electrified currents of hard bop grooves that are reminiscent of works from the 1960s and the experimentalism of the 21st century. Recording all pieces live off the floor, the quartet’s contemporary and laid-back pieces fuse together stylistic mannerisms similar to groups like Medeski, Martin & Wood, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. Zavitz’s playing at points takes on a distinctly Charlie Parker-meets-Michael Brecker tone – which can only hint at the size of the bag of licks he can choose from – and combined with the unique combination of personalities in the group, every phrase, melody and groove is drenched in new meanings. Their forward-looking compositions breathe an unpredictability that makes nothing feel calculated or restrained. It’s simply some damn fine playing. Zavitz’s ability to express himself on sax with a fluid charm that doesn’t go astray into the territory of being ‘too’ smooth, speaks volumes like his tonal control in pieces like “A Land Whose Sun is Coloured Differently Than Ours.” Merging his voice with the guitar and bass, the rapid-fire sax riffs snarl before attacking with several scattered descending runs. Walton’s distorted guitar leads warn from afar – hinting at what’s to come – but doesn’t let on what Zavitz is capable of. Don’t think that because the tempo eases up, the piano is there to save the day – no – instead it tells everyone to take a step back to allow Zavitz to fill the entire sonic landscape and bite with a free jazz viciousness. The effect can only be described as one-man orchestration. Where you begin to hear the musical dialogue in its fullest is in tracks like “Face Plant.” There’s enough room for everyone to express themselves, allowing each to proceed with confidence, and prepared to offer a fresh phrase or solid accompaniment. One of the highlights (aside from Zavitz’s and Walton’s playing) is Bakel’s ease behind the drum kit. At points he’s a crafter of atmosphere, with delicate passages injecting a sense of coolness. At others, his dexterous and well-placed fills add playfulness to tracks like “Moments Between Arcs” and “Mozongo.” Understated most of the time, the only missing element from this musical dialogue is the bass. Partly due to volume level issues and partly due to playing it too safe, Watkinson seems to be more focused on building the framework than anything else. The Former Champions’s debut is a rare thing in music: Now with Atomic Energy! can be put on in the background, but not lose any of its value. Alternatively it can become a headphone album that’s also suited to intense listening. Tracks like “Two Tickets” and “Oiggiepra” are mid-tempo grooves that aren’t invasive, filling the room with well-traveled and playful musical tales. But as soon as you pop on a pair of headphones, the pieces transform into a cinematic experience that’s chalked full of stories that aren’t meant for the coffee table crowd. And if you really want to make some jaws drop, let them know that Zavitz is only seventeen. Yeah, that’s right… Now with Atomic Energy! could be criticized for being a lightweight production that’s heavier on lyricism than rhythmic and harmonic complexity, but complaining that the music is not challenging enough misses the point at the end of the day. This is simply a straightforward album of great jazz, that’s definitely a must have for both the casual listener and the jazz aficionado. The Former Champions are highly recommended, and the blast they unleash with Now With Atomic Energy! is well worth the fallout.

...The Former Champions bring us Funk, Swing and plenty of mainstreat jazz ideas. They're fresh and they apply their themes delicately...whether driving up-tempo or dancing on waves of lightening, the band gives their audience a varied and fun-loving product. This is modern jazz that needs no hype to impress. Their music speaks well for itself. Jim Santella

The Former Champions new CD, Now With Atomic Energy!, is a gold mine of tight grooves and exploratory horn jazz. Both the song writing and the technical prowess of all the musicians is brilliantly displayed on this masterpiece of cutting edge jam influenced jazz. Backed with a beat that will keep your feet moving from start to finish, this CD is one that I would highly recommend to everyone!!! A must have.

- Now With Atomic Energy!, from The Former Champions, is a stately example of using big band instruments correctly so listeners can literally feel each and every track. The band hails from Richmond, Virginia, and utilizes progressive and untried tones on many of the tracks. All the instruments are played so superbly and in varying fashion, that each song is unique in its own way. “The String Theory” has drums pummeling alongside smooth piano and percussion play. Yet, the real superstar of this track is the saxophone player who wails away and gives this track a true jazz stamp. On “A Land Whose Sun Is Colored Differently Than Our Own,” there is sprightly guitar work, mild drumming, gentle percussion play as well as temperate piano work. The sax makes yet another appearance, making this song incredibly danceable and one listeners’ might hear on an upcoming episode of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. “Shapes Of Things To Come” has cool guitar play where one can envision the guitarist calmly strumming away. There is also fluid piano, percussion and drum play. The silken sax play here makes this song one that might be heard at an out of the way jazz club that is only known to a few people, but where the music is superb. On “Two Tickets,” drum and guitar invade the intro. Then bass enters the equation, and then the sax player lets loose. The intense sax play coincides with the drum play and gets concentrated for a bit, but then as the percussion wanes, so does the sax. But this doesn’t dim one’s attraction to this song. “House Fire” opens with an extremely long note from the sax player imitating the alarm that sounds when an inferno erupts. Yet this sound isn’t as harsh as the real thing, and segues into the rest of the song wonderfully. Then, the drums boom and nimble percussion joins in for a song that starts out with zest, but calms down a bit for a graceful tone. Now With Atomic Energy!, from The Former Champions, is a fitting title for an album that simmers and thunders in spots, yet also has a calm, regenerative feeling about it. For a debut album, this one sets The Former Champions in position to hold the heavyweight crown in the world of jazz. Reviewer's Rating: 9