Mats/Morgan

Mats/Morgan Band (formerly Hot Rats and Zappsteetoot) is a jazz band that features Morgan ?gren and Mats ?-berg. Morgan is a drummer and composer and Mats is a keyboard player and composer. Morgan ?gren has been a drummer since age four. Born in Ume?, Sweden, ?gren was spotted as an outstanding talent at a young age as he began performing publicly at age seven, and eventually joined forces with blind keyboardist Mats ?-berg in 1981.

Morgan ?gren has been a drummer since age four. Born in Ume?, Sweden, ?gren was spotted as an outstanding talent at a young age as he began performing publicly at age seven, and eventually joined forces with blind keyboardist Mats ?-berg in 1981.

They later formed Zappsteetoot together in 1984, a band internationally known for performing Zappa's music. In 1988, Morgan ?gren age 20 was, along with Mats, invited by Frank Zappa to do a guest performance at Mr. Zappa's Stockholm performance. Blown away by his skills, Mr. Zappa invited Morgan to the states to partake in several projects, including the 1994 Grammy Award winning CD "Zappa's Universe" with Steve Vai as well as a sold out New York performance of Zappa's classical program at Lincoln Centers Great Performers Series at Avery Fisher Hall.

The Mats/Morgan band is a showcase for their virtuosic skills on their respective instruments as well as their compositional skills. Their music is difficult to categorize, containing elements of jazz, electronic music, dance music, avant garde/free jazz, techno and modern classical music.

Morgan ?gren also collaborated with the guitarist of Swedish experimental metal band Meshuggah, Fredrik Thordendal, on the album Sol Niger Within, which was released in 1997.