1. Coquette 4:08  
2. Move 2:16   
3. Bei Dir War Es Immer So Schon 3:36
4. La Promenade 4:05
5. Blue Drag 2:43   			play
6. Bossa Andreas 3:16   		play
7. I Love You 4:32    
8. Miro Latcho Tchavo 4:45   
9. Pent-up House 2:45   
10. Swing For My Son 2:32  
11. Gjango's Waltz 1:50   
12. Blues For Bireli 4:11

This brilliant young guitarist hails from Stockholm, Sweden. The Los Angeles Times reports "at 28, he has already mastered everything from bebop to bossa nova, from swing to gypsy and fusion. His playing is at times an astonishing display of virtuosity." Andreas Oberg has impressed listeners around the world with his energy, swing and technique. ---Editorial Reviews

A friend who plays Gypsy Jazz tipped me off to the two "native" Gypsy guitarists on this CD - Ritary Gaguenetti and Yorgui Loeffler. Both are little known outside of the closest Gypsy Jazz circles, both are excellent performers of the style that goes by so many names - Hot Club, Jazz Manouche, Gypsy Jazz, Jazz Gitanes...

And of course, Andreas Oberg is a fine performer in his own right, but like the old argument about Black Blues musicians vs. White Blues musicians, I'll admit a slight preference to the two who were born and raised in the Gypsy society and with a guitar in hand from the age that most of us can hardly say our own name.

Among the Gypsy Jazz standards and other covers, there are also a few tribute pieces, one to the great Tchavolo Schmitt, and one to Bireli Lagrene (who was a wonder boy of Gypsy Jazz himself not so long ago).

This is a very balanced well recorded, and satisfying set, and I can recommend it to all lovers of good acoustic Gypsy Jazz guitar. --- Eli Marcus

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1. Funky Tango (Luis Salinas) 5:32
2. Troublant Bolero (Django Reinhardt) 6:13
3. Waiting For Angela (Toninho Horta) 5:43
4. Aqui, Oh (Toninho Horta) 5:15
5. Uptown Down (Pat Martino) 4:00
6. AM Call (Andreas Öberg) 6:24
7. The Changing World (George Benson) 4:38
8. The Trick Bag (Wes Montgomery) 5:11
9. Here To Stay (Pat Metheny) 5:13
10. Endless Love (Andreas Öberg) 5:13
11. Villa Hermosa (Pat Martino) 6:34
12. Valdez In The Country (Donny Hathaway) 4:44

Andreas Öberg - Electric & Acoustic Guitar
Kuno Schmid - Piano or Keyboards (01)
Tamir Hendelman - Piano or Keyboards (02)
Marian Petrescu - Piano or Keyboards (03)
Kevin Axt - Bass
Harish Raghavan - Bass
Kuno Schmid - Keyboard Bass (06)
Vic Stevens - Drums & Percussion

Andreas Oberg honors several of the most recognized guitarists in jazz through this contemporary outing, where his guitar speaks for generations and his smooth approach appeals to a broad audience. A full studio orchestra complements much of the program as Oberg's guitar floats effortlessly over the gathering.

An appealing Brazilian atmosphere pervades on "Aqui, Oh," where the leader's wordless vocals ride waves of warmth that wash over his acoustic guitar with pleasurable results. Oberg enjoys a fluid technique where notes run clear and distinct. When keyboard player Kuno Schmid steps forward, the contrast between his muddy cascades and the guitarist's clearly-defined runs is magnified.

With Oberg's ballad "Endless Love," acoustic guitar takes over with a folksong approach while the studio orchestra colors from a distance. With "Funky Tango" and "Waiting for Angela," it's the background instrumentation from the keyboards and the orchestra that occupy much of the focus. Oberg enjoys a better stride when paring it down and allowing his guitar to shine.

Elsewhere, as on "Uptown Downtown," "Villa Hermosa" and "Here to Stay," the guitarist finds his niche as he fits comfortably into Pat Martino's bag with all points covered. He's at his best when improvising alongside the small group and excluding the lush orchestra and surround-sound keyboard swirls. ---Jim Santella, allaboutjazz.com

Swedish jazz guitarist Andreas Öberg has been quoted as saying that one of his desires is to "make music that can appeal to people who don't like jazz." Many hardcore jazz musicians become nervous and apprehensive when they hear other improvisers talking about commercializing jazz in some fashion or making jazz more accessible to rock, pop or R&B fans; they think of all the robotic elevator music that smooth jazz/NAC radio stations have played in the '80s, '90s and 21st century. But My Favorite Guitars is an album that, despite its commercial appeal, isn't going to win over the Kenny G./Najee/Richard Elliott crowd. Öberg isn't trying to be the Dave Koz of the guitar -- far from it. Actually, the best stylistic comparison on this 64-minute CD -- which finds Öberg paying tribute to other guitarists -- would be the pre-Breezin' CTI albums that Creed Taylor produced for George Benson (one of Öberg's main influences) in the late '60s and early '70s. At times, Taylor was guilty of overproducing, but when he achieved the right balance of jazz and commercial considerations, he soared as a producer -- and My Favorite Guitars achieves that type of balance. This 2008 release isn't in a class with Benson's best CTI releases, but it's definitely respectable. Although Öberg brings a strong sense of groove to the table, he has plenty of room to stretch out and improvise whether he is paying tribute to Benson on "The Changing World," Django Reinhardt on "Troublant Bolero," Pat Metheny on "Here to Stay," or Wes Montgomery (another major influence) on "The Trick Bag." My Favorite Guitars won't appeal to jazz purists or bop snobs, but it has integrity and demonstrates that an improviser can reach out to pop and R&B fans and still maintain an improvisatory, jazz-oriented focus. ---Alex Henderson, AllMusic Review

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01. Papa Gato (6:12)
02. Madame Grenouille (5:57)
03. We’ll Be Together Again (7:11)
04. Archibald’s Dance (8:15)
05. From the Bottom of My Heart (5:35)
06. Meu Bom Velho (My Dear Sir) (5:48)
07. Brother to Brother (5:10)
08. Amar a Maria (To Love Maria) (4:03)
09. Compared to What (4:17)
10. Dawn Ballad (5:31)
11. Man (5:32)

Performance Credits:
Andreas Oberg - Primary Artist, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocal (Papa Gato)
John Patitucci - Electric Bass & Acoustic Bass
Decebal Badila - Electric Bass (Archibald's Dance)
John Beasley - Synthesizer, Percussion, Vibes solo (Maniac)
Dave Kikoski - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Lewis Nash - Drums
Charlie Bisharat - Violin
Darmon Meader - Saxophone, Vocal (Maniac)
Enzo Todesco - Percussion (Papa Gato)
Marius Preda - Cymbalom (Archibald's Dance)
Antal Steixner - Cajon (Archibald's Dance)
Filу Machado - Vocal & Vocal Percussion (Amar a Maria)

Guitarist Andreas Oberg's lean and uncomplicated style is attractive to followers of the instrument in contemporary jazz circles to the point where he can command attention from many formidable players accompanying him. This star-studded album finds Oberg in great company, as it features drummer Lewis Nash, bassist John Patitucci, keyboardist David Kikoski, and some lesser knowns. The surprise addition is Darmon Meader from the New York Voices, not singing, but playing the tenor saxophone in a very competent, post-Michael Brecker style. Musically, Oberg is comfortable in fun funk, pop-jazz, or neo-bop settings, all heard on this diverse CD within a framework/showcase for his estimable talents. The ensemble covers pop tunes by Michael Sembello, Gino Vanelli, and Stevie Wonder, as well as the Les McCann/Gene McDaniels evergreen "Compared to What" with a switched-up beat. But it is on the merry montuno-to-neo-bop cover of the Pancho Sanchez composition "Papa Gato" where Kikoski and Oberg cut loose, while they join together on the bright Geoff Keezer-penned "Madame Grenouille." In Brazilian tones with his acoustic guitar, or alongside the pleasant and formidable Meader, Oberg proves compatible in styles that are more commercial, yet artistic. He's a work in progress, making inroads on developing a personal approach, and a player to watch for 2010 and beyond. --- Michael G. Nastos

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