mats öberg

Having played in Hot Rats (a band he had formed with Morgan Ågren) in the early eighties, and in Zappsteetoot (an 8-piece band that played Frank Zappa's music) in the late eighties, Mats Öberg ( & Morgan Ågren) sat in with the Zappa band in 1988 during the Stockholm performance. Since then Mats (& Morgan) have released and contributed to a fine bunch of albums.

In 1991, Mats took part in the "Zappa's Universe" concert series.

Between 1994 and 1996, Mats & Morgan performed Zappa's music as Frank Zappa Memorial Barbeque.

In 2000 he performed with the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, playing Frank Zappa's "200 Motels Suites".

In 2003 he played Frank Zappa compositions with Denny Walley's Zappa Corner Band and with Ed Palermo's Big Band at The Umeå Internationella Kammarmusik Festival.

July 2004, the Mats / Morgan Band performed at the "Zappanale" festival in Bad Doberan, Germany. Shortly thereafter, the band toured the USA.

September 2006, the MusikFabrik performed music by Zappa and by Varèse. The band had been gathered by Ali N.Askin, and included keyboardist Mats Öberg and drummer Morgan Ågren as special guests.

September 2012, Mats Öberg toured with Beches Brew, Bengt Berger's project.

selective discography

	agamon: open your eyes     (1993, cd, sw, mellotronen cd 006) - feat. morgan ågren, mats öberg
	various artists: zappa's universe     (1993, cd, nl, verve 513575-2) - incl. various zappa band alumni performing frank zappa's compositions
	various artists: choice morsels     (1993, cd, usa, verve/polygram) - incl. various zappa band alumni performing frank zappa's compositions
	jonas knutsson & mats öberg: vadårå vadårå     (1995, cd, sweden, seg records)
	simon steensland: the zombie hunter  (2)     (1995, cd, ??, ad perpetuam memoriam) - feat.mats öberg, morgan ågren
	mats / morgan: trends and other diseases (1)     (1996, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 1) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	jimmy ågren: get this into your head     (1996, cd, swe, uae) - feat. mats öberg, produced by morgan ågren
	various artists: the music of captain beefheart     (1996, cd ,swe, uae) - feat. morgan ågren, d.walley, jimmy ågren, mats öberg; all compositions by don van vliet
	fredrik thordendal's special defects: sol niger within     (1997, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 4) - feat. mats öberg, morgan ågren
	denny walley: spare parts  (1)     (1997, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 5) - feat.mats & morgan; incl.frank zappa compositions
	sten sandell - simon steensland: under öknar     (1997, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 6) - feat.mats öberg and morgan ågren
	mats / morgan: the music or the money… (2)     (1997, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 7) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	mats öberg & g.u.b.b.: välling & fotogen     (1998, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 8)
	mats / morgan: radio da da  (3)     (1998, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 9) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	mats / morgan: the teenage tapes  (4)     (1998, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 10) - feat. mats öberg, morgan ågren
	hans annéllsson: one more time for the world     (1999, cd, swe, annellsongs) - incl. 'uncle meat', 'king kong', 'the black page', 'oh no' (frank zappa)  -  feat. mats öberg, morgan agren
	bengt berger old school: all time high     (1999, cd, sweden, amigo music amcd 885) - feat. mats oberg
	simon steensland: led circus  (3)     (1999, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment) - feat.mats öberg, morgan ågren
	jimmy ågren: glass finger ghost     (2001, cd, swe, uae) - feat.mats öberg, morgan ågren
	mats / morgan: live (5)     (2001, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 13) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	mats / morgan: on air with guests (6)     (2002, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 15) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	morgan ågren: trum     (2002, video, sweden, ??) - feat. mats öberg, jimmy ågren
	various artists: zappanale 15     (2004, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 15 - retrospective     (2004, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	berger knutsson spering & friends: see you in a minute - memories of don cherry     (2005, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce 03) - feat. mats oberg
	berger knutsson spering & friends: see you in a minute - the extra takes     (2005, mp3-download, sweden, country & eastern ce 03) - feat. mats oberg
	mats / morgan band: thanks for flying with us     (2005, cd, usa, cuneiform) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren
	c&e party band & friends: c & e christmas I     (2006, mp3-download, sweden, country & eastern) – feat.mats öberg  //  released on cd in 2008
	c&e party band & friends: c & e christmas II     (2006, mp3-download, sweden, country & eastern) – feat.mats öberg  //  released on cd in 2008
	mats öberg: in the moment     (2006, cd, swe, moserobie mmpcd043)
	mats öberg: improvisational two     (2007, cd, swe, caprice records cap 21780)
	mats / morgan band: heat beats live + tourbook 1991-2007     (2008, cd+dvd, usa, cuneiform rune 265-266)
	mats / morgan: trends and other diseases     (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform rune 267) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ågren  //  = a re-issue of the 1996 album, with one bonus track
	jonas knutsson / mats öberg: live     (2009, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce10)
	c&e party band & friends: country & eastern christmas     (2008, 2cd, sweden, country & eastern ce12) - feat.mats öberg
	bengt berger: beches brew     (2009, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce13) - feat. mats öberg
	mats öberg trio: so very mats     (2010, cd, sweden, moserobie)
	per tjernberg: music is my salvation     (2011, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce18) - feat. mats öberg
	hans annéllsson: radioskugga med överdrag     (2012, download, --, --) - feat. jimmy ågren & mats öberg
	mats öberg trio: only live     (2013, cd, sweden, moserobie)
	lena willemark, jonas knutsson & mats öberg: alla drömmars sång     (2013, cd, sweden, country & eastern)
	morgan ågren: conundrum (a percussive misadventures)     (2013, dvd, usa, bend bars / lift gates films) - feat. frank zappa, mats öberg, dweezil zappa, marco minnemann, mike keneally, joe travers
	lisa lestander, jonas knutsson, mats öberg: sånger från norr     (2014, cd, germany, westpark music  wp 87263 pwm15)
	hans annéllsson: prog idag     (2014, cdr-on-demand, usa, cdbaby) - feat mats öbert and morgan ågren
	mats / morgan:  [schack tati]     (2014, cd, usa, cuneiform rune 385)
	morgan ågren: conundrum undone - the deleted scenes     (2014, download, usa, bend bars / lift gates films) = deleted scenes from the conundrum documentary
	morgan ågren: batterie deluxe     (2014, cd, japan, disk union / arcàngelo arc-3042) - feat. mats öberg, jimmy ågren, simon steensland, fredrik thordendal
	the string trash project and the american-european mothers of music: zappa spielt für bach     (2014, cd, ger, stiftung johann-sebastian) - incl. frank zappa compositions
	mats öberg: improvisational two.five     (2014, cd, swe, caprice records cap 21838)
	mats / morgan band: live 2014     (2015, download, --, bandcamp) = download-only album
	mats / morgan: put another quarter in! (archives vol.1)     (2015, download, --, bandcamp) = download-only album
	hans annéllsson / mats öberg : fran a -> ö     (2015, cd, sweden, annellssongs) - incl. 'penis dimension' (frank zappa)
	elliot elliot: yeah low!     (2015, download, --, bandcamp) - feat. mats öberg, morgan ågren
	napoleon murphy brock & peach noise: zappanale 26     (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - feat.mats öberg // all compositions by frank zappa
	the banned from utopia: zappanale 26     (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - all compositions by frank zappa; feat. various zappa alumni
	various artists: zappanale 26 - good bye session     (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, faet. ike willis, ed mann, mats öberg, jeff hollie, craig steward, denny walley
	serious coffee: serious coffee     (2015, cd, eu, daion recordings drcd005) = mats öberg
	various artists: zappanale # 26     (2016, 3cd, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat. napoleon murphy brock, ike willis, denny walley, jeff hollie, craig twister steward, ed mann, robert martin, albert wing, ray white, tom fowler, robbie mangano, mats öberg
	mats/morgan: 35th anniversary collection     (2016, 2cd, sweden, morgan records .rec 001) - feat. jimmy ågren, simon steensland, fredrik thordendal
	morgan ågren: through the eyes of a morgchestra     (2016, cd, sweden, morgan records m.rec 002) - feat. mats öberg, simon steensland
	the vegetarians: let's have a good time     (2016, download, usa, cdbaby) - feat. napoleon murphy brock, mats öberg, jimmy ågren / incl. 'amnerika' (frank zappa) and 'titles' (hans annéllsson's) of which the lyrics consists of zappa songs
	elliot elliot: sympathy breakthrough     (2017, download, --, bandcamp) - feat. mats öberg and morgan ågren
	mats / morgan: live with norrlandsoperan symphony orchestra     (2018, dvd / 2 cd, sweden, morgan records .rec 003) - incl.zappa licks in 'sylox'
	elliot elliot: nature for president     (2019, download, --, bandcamp)
	mats öberg: frankful     (2019, cd, sweden, annellssongs / private release) - all compositions by frank zappa

concerts

Zappa's Universe, as part of the "rock group"

• 1991/11/07 - 1991/11/10    "zappa's universe" - a tribute to frank zappa in his 50th birthday year
      at 'the ritz', nyc, ny, usa
      organised by joel thome
      concert by the orchestra of our time (cond.joel thome), rock group, persuasions, rockapella and guests

"en akustisk afton med musik av frank zappa" (an acoustic evening with the music of fz)

• 1994/05/22 concert 'malmö konsthall', malmö, sweden

  • "en akustisk afton med musik av frank zappa" (an acoustic evening with the music of fz)

    • hans annéllsson, mats & morgan & others...

    • twenty small cigars, number 6, sheik yerbouti tango, treacherous cretins

    • an excellent 13-minute soundboard recording of this performance circulates

The Umeå Internationella Kammarmusik Festival

• 2003/06/13 The Ed Palermo Jazz From Hell Band
  • The Ed Palermo Jazz From Hell Band
    • Ed Palermo: sax * Mike Keneally: guitar * Mats Öberg: keyboards * Morgan Ågren: drums * Paul Adamy: bass * Bob Quaranta: piano
  • Guest: Napoleon Murphy Brock: sax
  • Setlist
    • Toads Of The Short Forest
    • Little Umbrellas
    • Blessed Relief  (with Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax, solo by Ed)
   
• 2003/06/13 The Zappa Corner band: "The Zappa Corner #1"
  • The Zappa Corner Band
    • Denny Walley: slide guitar, vocals * Mats Öberg: keyboard * Morgan Ågren: drums * Tommy Thordsson: bass * Napoleon M Brock: vocals, sax * Mike Keneally: guitar * Ed Palermo: sax * Paul Adamy: bass
  • Setlist
    • Magic Fingers (Tommy Thordsson on bass, sung by Denny and Mike, without Napi)
      Advance Romance (Paul Adamy on bass, sung by Napi)
      City of Tiny Lites (Tommy on bass, sung by Denny, incredible keyboard solo by Mats, without Napi)
       

• 2003/06/14 The Ed Palermo Big Band: "Big Band Zappa"

  • The Ed Palermo Big Band

    • Ed Palermo: director & sax * Magnus Ekholm, Bosse Strandberg: trumpet * Magnus Puls, Gunnar Walldén, Björn Hängsel: trombone * Peter Lindqvist, Petri Kivimäki, Peter Nordvall, Sigurd Löf, Jonas Knutsson: sax * Bob Quaranta, Mats Öberg: keyboards * Morgan Ågren: drums * Paul Adamy: bass * Mike Keneally: guitar * Napoleon M Brock: vocals & sax

  • Program

    • Regyptian Strut * Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus * King Kong / Transylvanian Boogie * Sleep Dirt * The Grand Wazoo * Uncle Remus * Pygmy Twylyte * Village of the Sun * Echidna’s Arf (of you) * Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing * Sofa #1 * Oh No * The Idiot Bastard Son * Peaches en Regalia * Andy
      

• 2003/06/14 The Ed Palermo Jazz From Hell Band

  • The Ed Palermo Jazz From Hell Band

    • Ed Palermo: sax * Mike Keneally: guitar * Mats Öberg: keyboards * Morgan Ågren: drums * Paul Adamy: bass * Bob Quaranta: piano

  • Setlist

    • The Gumbo Variations

    • 20 Small Cigars

    • Toads Of The Short Forest
       

• 2003/06/14 The Zappa Corner Band: "The Zappa Corner #2"

  • The Zappa Corner band:

    • Denny Walley: slide guitar, vocals * Mats Öberg: keyboard * Morgan Ågren: drums * Tommy Thordsson: bass * Napoleon M Brock: vocals, sax * Mike Keneally: guitar * Ed Palermo: sax * Paul Adamy: bass

  • Setlist

    • Montana * (Paul Adamy on bass, sung by Napi, without Denny, but with four invited young girls - three on backing vocals, one on trombone - from Zappa Graduates

    • City of Tiny Lites (Tommy on bass, featuring a long wah wah solo from Zappa Graduates young guitar player, without Napi)

    • Magic Fingers (Tommy on bass, solo passing between Mike, Denny and the young guy from Zappa Graduates, without Napi)

    • Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Tommy on bass, Napi on lead vocals)

    • What's The Ugliest part of your Body (same)

    • Advance Romance (Paul Adamy on bass, Jimmy Ågren on Harmonica, Napi on lead vocals)
      encores :

    • The Black Page #1 (played spontaneously by Mike, Mats & Morgan on the rhythm of the hand claps of the audience !)

    • Inca Roads (Paul Adamy on bass, Napi on flute, sung by Mike who also played the piano during Mats' keyboard solo, without Denny)

    • Amerika Drinks (with Mike on drums ! the whole thing ending up into a frenzy in the Absolutely Free style)
       

• 2005/03/11 concert "Zakral", 'parish church', Sandviken, Sweden - an all zappa program
   
• 2005/04/16 The Homo Zappians, feat. Mats Öberg - concert 'musikhuset', gävle, sweden

random notes

info from gary - 2002/02/18
Newsgroups: alt.fan.frank-zappa - Subject: The Dragonmaster show

The Mats and Morgen section of Big Swifty (where they perform T'Mershi Duween) is amazing.  Mats seems like he's giving Tommy Mars a run for his money.

He talks about this event in  the Feb. '92 issue of Keyboard which covered Zappa's Universe.

***
Q: How did you and Frank meet?

A: My uncle called his road manager in Scandinavia and told him that there were these two musicians from Sweden who had been playing Zappa music for a long time, and that they'd like to meet him.  We did that before his show at Stockholm in '88.  We told him a little bit about ourselves and gave him a tape that included a song of his called "T'Mershi Duween", which was not released on any record - just on bootleg....

Q: What did he think of the tape?

A: He never played it.  That was the funniest thing.  He just said (lapses into baritone pseudo-Zappa voice), "You play that song? That's amazing.  Tonight we play a song called 'Big Swifty'.  Maybe we could bring you up onstage in the middle of the song and you can jam along with us."  That's what happened.  We went onstage and jammed with four members of the band.
***

Also I might venture to add the version of Stairway seems better than the one that was released.

audihaun pasted the following message on the Zappateers forum:

Lennart Gustafsson from Sweden reports: “On Friday 11th March 2005, Mats Öberg played Zappa on a grand piano in the parish church, Sandviken. Mats gave his personal and exciting interpretations of a long list of Zappa themes, such as Lumpy Gravy, Twenty Small Cigars, Duke of Prunes, Inca Roads and Dupree’s Paradise – as well as improvisations on 200 Motels. This rather odd type of church music gathered some 200 people in an almost full church, despite a heavy snowstorm. The active Sandviken Zappa Society (formed last year) took the initiative and nicknamed this programme, ‘Zakral’. A follow-up with Zappa music played on the church organ is being considered.”

2010 01

Jonas Knutsson and Mats Öberg perform in New York City on Monday Jan 11, 2010

Saxophone star Jonas Knutsson and keyboard genius Mats Öberg will be performing at "Concerts Sweden" at the APAP Conference (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) in New York City.
The duo recently released a live album on the Country & Eastern label, and will be performing at APAP on Monday, January 11!

Jonas Knutsson & Mats Öberg will be performing once during the afternoon session 2:00-6pm and once during the evening session 7:00-11:00pm

"Traditional Swedish music combined with Contemporary Jazz and World. Öberg is an acclaimed, exceptionally versatile, keyboard genius possessing knock-out powers of expression. Knutsson is a bright saxophone star, equally at home in Jazz, folk and improvisation. Friends since childhood, their musical connections run deep."