mats öberg

Having played in Hot Rats (a band he had formed with Morgan Ĺgren) in the early eighties, and in Zappsteetoot (an 8-piece band that played Frank Zappa's music) in the late eighties, Mats Öberg ( & Morgan Ĺgren) 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 Umeĺ 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 Varčse. The band had been gathered by Ali N.Askin, and included keyboardist Mats Öberg and drummer Morgan Ĺgren 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 ĺgren, 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: vadĺrĺ vadĺrĺ
    (1995, cd, sweden, seg records)
  simon steensland: the zombie hunter  (2)
    (1995, cd, ??,
ad perpetuam memoriam) - feat.mats öberg, morgan ĺgren
steensland_zombiehunter.jpg (14929 bytes)
  mats / morgan: trends and other diseases (1)
    (1996, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 1)
- feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ĺgren

mm01.jpg (53326 bytes)

  jimmy ĺgren: get this into your head
    (1996, cd, swe, uae) - feat. mats öberg, produced by morgan ĺgren

  various artists: the music of captain beefheart
    (1996, cd ,swe, uae) - feat. morgan ĺgren, d.walley, jimmy ĺgren, 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 ĺgren
  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 ĺgren
sandellsteensland_underoknar.jpg (32805 bytes)
  mats / morgan: the music or the money… (2)
    (1997, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 7)
- feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ĺgren
  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 ĺgren

  mats / morgan: the teenage tapes  (4)
    (
1998, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 10) - feat. mats öberg, morgan ĺgren

  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

bengtberger_alltimehigh.jpg (21683 bytes)

  simon steensland: led circus  (3)
    (1999, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment) - feat.mats öberg, morgan
ĺgren
  jimmy ĺgren: glass finger ghost
    (2001, cd, swe, uae) - feat.mats öberg, morgan ĺgren
  mats / morgan: live (5)
    (2001, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 13) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ĺgren
  mats / morgan: on air with guests (6)
    (2002, cd, swe, ultimate audio entertainment uae disc 15) - feat. mats öberg, morgan & jimmy ĺgren
  morgan ĺgren: trum
    (2002, video, sweden, ??) - feat. mats öberg, jimmy ĺgren

  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

ce03.jpg (23974 bytes)

  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 ĺgren
  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)

oberg_inthemoment.jpg (27343 bytes)

  mats öberg: improvisational two
    (2007, cd, swe, caprice records cap 21780)

oberg_improvisational.jpg (12042 bytes)

  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 ĺgren  //  = a re-issue of the 1996 album, with one bonus track

  jonas knutsson / mats öberg: live
    (2009, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce10)

knutsson_oberg_live.jpg (18125 bytes)

  c&e party band & friends: country & eastern christmas
    (2008, 2cd, sweden, country & eastern ce12) - feat.mats öberg

c_e_christmas.jpg (30058 bytes)

  bengt berger: beches brew
    (2009, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce13) - feat. mats öberg

bengtberger_ce13.jpg (28083 bytes)

  mats öberg trio: so very mats
    (2010, cd, sweden, moserobie)

so_very_mats.jpg (13318 bytes)

  per tjernberg: music is my salvation
    (2011, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce18) - feat. mats öberg

tjernberg_musicismysalvation.jpg (19242 bytes)

  hans annéllsson: radioskugga med överdrag
    (2012, download, --, --) - feat. jimmy ĺgren & mats öberg

annellsson_radioskugga.jpg (97925 bytes)

  mats öberg trio: only live
    (2013, cd, sweden, moserobie)

mats_onlylive.jpg (22207 bytes)

 

lena willemark, jonas knutsson & mats öberg: alla drömmars sĺng
    (2013, cd, sweden, country & eastern)

willemark_knutsson_oberg_cd.jpg (23370 bytes)

  morgan ĺgren: 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

morganagren_conundrum_dvd.jpg (50896 bytes)

  lisa lestander, jonas knutsson, mats öberg: sĺnger frĺn norr
    (2014, cd, germany, westpark music  wp 87263 pwm15)
  hans annéllsson: prog idag
    (2014, cdr-on-demand, usa, cdbaby) - feat mats öbert and morgan ĺgren

hansannellsson_progidag.jpg (29496 bytes)

  mats / morgan:  [schack tati]
    (2014, cd, usa, cuneiform rune 385)

mats_morgan_schacktati.jpg (42831 bytes)

  morgan ĺgren: conundrum undone - the deleted scenes
    (2014, download, usa, bend bars / lift gates films) = deleted scenes from the conundrum documentary

conundrum_undone.jpg (53182 bytes)

  morgan ĺgren: batterie deluxe
    (2014, cd, japan, disk union / arcŕngelo arc-3042) - feat. mats öberg, jimmy ĺgren, simon steensland, fredrik thordendal

morgan_batteriedeluxe.jpg (31125 bytes)

 

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

zappaspieltfurbach2014_cd.jpg (32270 bytes)

  mats öberg: improvisational two.five
    (2014, cd, swe, caprice records cap 21838)

mats_oberg_imprtwopointfive.jpg (26135 bytes)

  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)

annellsson_oberg2015.jpg (47327 bytes)

  elliot elliot: yeah low!
    (2015, download, --, bandcamp) - feat. mats öberg, morgan ĺgren

elliot_elliot_yeahlow_spotify.jpg (3850 bytes)

  napoleon murphy brock & peach noise: zappanale 26
    (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - feat.mats öberg // all compositions by frank zappa
nmb_pn_zappanaledvdr2015.jpg (16050 bytes)
  the banned from utopia: zappanale 26
    (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - all compositions by frank zappa; feat. various zappa alumni
z26_bfu_dvdr.jpg (15211 bytes)
  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

z26_goodbyesession_dvdr.jpg (15249 bytes)

  serious coffee: serious coffee
    (2015, cd, eu, daion recordings drcd005) = mats öberg

serouscoffee_cd.jpg (22412 bytes)

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

varart_zappanale26.jpg (27415 bytes)

  mats/morgan: 35th anniversary collection
    (2016, 2cd, sweden, morgan records .rec 001) - feat. jimmy ĺgren, simon steensland, fredrik thordendal
mats_morgan_35thanniv_2cd.jpg (26375 bytes)
  morgan ĺgren: through the eyes of a morgchestra
    (2016, cd, sweden, morgan records m.rec 002) - feat. mats öberg, simon steensland
morgan_agren_throughthheeyes.jpg (10880 bytes)
  the vegetarians: let's have a good time
    (2016, download, usa, cdbaby) - feat. napoleon murphy brock, mats öberg, jimmy ĺgren / incl. 'amnerika' (frank zappa) and 'titles' (hans annéllsson's) of which the lyrics consists of zappa songs
vegetariansletshaveagoodtime2016.jpg (32091 bytes)
  elliot elliot: sympathy breakthrough
    (2017, download, --, bandcamp) - feat. mats öberg and morgan ĺgren
 
  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"

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

The Umeĺ Internationella Kammarmusik Festival

 

 

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."


 

2012 12

"Alla Drömmars Sĺng (Song of Dreams)" is a new album by Lena Willemark, Jonas Knutsson and Mats Öberg. It got recorded last summer and will most probably be released in February 2013 on the Country & Eastern label.

Lena Willemark-Jonas Knutsson-Mats Öberg by Viktor Gĺrdsäter

-- info: Country & Eastern

 

2012 12

Mats Öberg with Lennart Gustafsson, at Zappanale.

 


the others of invention

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soundtracks various artists