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The buzz on Jennifer Batten began rising from the guitar underground in the late ‘80’s. The guitar magazines promptly picked up on Jennifer, chronicling her savvy musicianship and highly original approach to the electric guitar. On Guitar Magazine’s premier compilation record, the editor wrote, “It was Jennifer’s version of John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’ that was considered by her peers to be the ‘scariest’ and most requested cut on the disc.”
At one point, Batten was in 6 different bands playing everything from straight ahead rock, to metal, to fusion, to funk. Her video credits have included Natalie Cole’s “Wild Women Do,” Michael Jackson’s “Moonwalker,” Sara Hickman’s “Take It Like A Man.” And she was the subject of the feature interview in Hot Guitarists video magazine’s premier issue.
A major turning point came in 1987 when she was selected from over 100 guitarists to play in Michael Jackson’s highly skilled band which toured the world for one and a half years playing for over 4.5 million people. The Michael Jackson tour helped intensify her drive and musical vision. Jennifer wasted no time after the Bad Tour’s grand finale, diving into work on her own album with renowned producer Michael Sembello. The glorious results can be heard on “Above, Below, and Beyond,” the title appropriately describing the interesting diversity within. With this debut release, the world at large learned what all the excitement was about. Shortly after the record’s release in the spring of ‘92, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson for his upcoming “Dangerous Tour.” She accepted and went to Europe and Japan.
On Jan. 31 1993, she joined Jackson to partake in Superbowl 27’s half time entertainment which aired to 1.5 billion people in 80 nations around the planet. It was the largest audience in television history. After the Superbowl, she resigned from the tour to record a CD and to tour with a blues rock band called “The Immigrants,” (also produced by Michael Sembello).
In 1996, she recorded a track on Carmine Appice’s “Guitar Zeus” project which features such guitar soloists as Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Slash, and Brian May. She also played on 6 tracks on DOC TAHRI’S debut CD called “Einstein was a Bullfighter” with ex-”Public Image” bassist Bret Helm. Upon completion of her new solo record Jennifer Batten’s Tribal Rage “Momentum,” she was again asked to join Michael Jackson for his one and a half year world tour, supporting his multi-platinum CD, “HIStory” and “Blood on the Dancefloor.”
Jennifer’s next project is a much different direction than her first record and is heavily influenced by world music. It is a hybrid of rock and very exotic ethnic sounds, including African percussion, Australian didjeredoo, and Scottish bag pipes. It sounds like a rich and moody journey around the planet.
In spring 1998 Jennifer joined Jeff Becks band. She played on the record, and is currently in the midst of a world tour supporting his March ‘99 release “WHO ELSE!.”
Dean Markley’s NickelSteel Electric™ & Blue Steel in Custom-Lite gauge are the strings that Jennifer Batten relies on to help keep her as a leader on the cutting edge of world class musicians.
Be sure to visit the Jennifer Batten website at:
www.Batten.com.
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