Jennifer Batten

Name: Jennifer Batten
Born: 28th November, 1957

Profile: She is an American guitarist and songwriter, has worked as both a session musician and a solo artist. Jennifer are famously known as a lead and rhythm guitarist on Michael Jackson's 'Bad', 'Dangerous' and 'HIStory' tours.

History: She started to play guitar in her teens where at one point she was in 6 different bands, playing everything from straight ahead rock, to metal, fusion, and funk. A major turning point came 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 four and a half million people.

Jennifer wasted no time after the 'Bad' Tour's grand finale, diving into work on her own album with renown producer Michael Sembello. The stunning results can be heard on 'Above, Below, and Beyond', the title appropriately describing the interesting diversity within.

Shortly after the record's release in 1992, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson (MJ) for his upcoming 'Dangerous Tour'. In early 1993, she joined MJ to partake in Superbowl XXVII's half time entertainment which aired to one and half billion people in 80 nations. It was the largest audience in television history.

She completed her second solo record 'Jennifer Batten's Tribal Rage~Momentum', just before she was again asked to join MJ for his 2 year world tour supporting his double album 'HIStory' in 1997.

Jennifer's 'Tribal Rage' project took a much different direction than her first record and is heavily influenced by world music. It is a hybrid of rock and very exotic sounds, including African percussion, Australian didgeridoo, Caribbean steel drums and Scottish bag pipes.

In 1998, Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band. They joined forces for 3 years doing 2 albums which were both supported by world tours.

Influences: Jeff Beck, Joe Diorio, Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Steve Vai, Johnny Lang and Michael Bianco.

Axology: Washburn guitars, Ibanez guitars, Adrian Belew Parker Fly, Marshall cabinet with greenbacks, Marshall EL34 100/100 Dual Mono Bloc power amp, Digitech RP 1000 and Stuart Box Doubleneck Tapping Guitars

Signature song(s): Black & White - Michael Jackson

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7TtzfVshO8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQO2fi-UJxo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vOsTLyh1uE

Dewa Budjana (Gigi)

Name: Dewa Gede Budjana
Born: 30th August, 1963 (Waikabubak, Indonesia)

Profile: He is an Indonesian guitarist, songwriter and composer, best known as the lead guitarist and songwriter of the band "Gigi".

History: Like many other guitarists, Dewa did not really have a formal education in music, however, his grandparents, played traditional 'gamelan' music in their spare times. His first guitar teacher was a construction worker who lived nearby his house. The passion grew stronger, and was nurtured when the boy moved to big city of Surabaya, where he took a classical music course when he was in high school, performed with a band, and indulged in dozens of music performances.

Dewa is initially into pop and rock, and his style veered heavily into jazz. He then established a jazz band called "Squirrel", which was pretty popular in the local scene. After graduation, he went to Jakarta to pursue a career as professional musician. He came across jazz maestro, the late Jack Lesmana, who taught Dewa the philosophy of jazz.

After a period of club performances, Dewa's skill later attracted many artists to collaborate with. He even joined several bands, such as "Spirit" and "Java Jazz", as well as working for noted musicians like Erwin Gutawa, Elfa Secioria and Addie MS.

In 1994, despite growing reputation as a top-notch guitarist, Dewa personal taste is actually pretty eclectic, which brought him to establish pop group "Gigi", the group survives until now, and still hailed as one of the biggest pop bands in the country.

He also manages to release four solo albums whose music is an amalgamation of jazz, pop and traditional music. His debut in 1997, 'Nusa Damai', was a collection of compositions he wrote ever since he knew how to play the instrument. In 2000, 'Gitarku' was released, a purely instrumental album with therapeutic and meditative sound. 'Samsara' followed three years later, an album highlighted with traditional Kalimantan flute and Japanese Shamisen. The album was a reflection of his journey and experience of working with international musicians, such Peter Erskine and bassist Dave Carpenter.

Influences: John Mc Laughlin, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, John Abercrombie, Chick Corea, Weather Report, Keith Jarret, Alex de Grassi, Bill Evans, Bill Frissell and Jan Garbarek

Axology: Parker guitar model Fly Delux, Klein guitars and Gibson guitars SG series, Carvin Legacy amplifier and Line 6

Signature song(s): Ruang Dialisis - Dewa Budjana (Nusa Damai, 1997) and 11 Januari - Gigi (Peace, Love & Respect, 2007)

Link(s):

http://www.dewabudjana.com/v2/main.php (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA0whPcZ4d0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZatcbQA0lqk