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