Gtaranaki 2010

Best known for her collaborations with Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck, the buzz on Jennifer Batten originally rose from the guitar underground.  The guitar magazines promptly began chronicling her savvy musicianship and highly original approach to the electric guitar in print.

At one point Batten was in six different bands, playing everything from straight-ahead rock, to metal, fusion and funk. A major turning point came in 1987 when she was selected from over a hundred guitarists to play in Michael Jackson's band for the 18-month world tour supporting his Bad album, 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 renowned producer (and Stevie Wonder guitarist) Michael Sembello. The stunning 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 1992, she was asked again to join Michael Jackson for his upcoming Dangerous tour. In January 1993, she joined Jackson 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 Michael Jackson for his two-year world tour supporting the double album HIStory in 1997.

Jennifer's Tribal Rage project took a much different direction from 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 bagpipes.

In the spring of 1998 Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band. They joined forces for three years on the CDs Who Else, and You Had It Coming, which were both supported by world tours. Other guest appearances include CDs with Carmine Appice, Michael Sembello, Carl Anderson, Carina Alfie and several rock tributes.

Jennifer has authored two music books and in 2008 released her third solo CD/DVD, titled Whatever. With this third effort, she has ventured into electronica, vocal samples and film. She has supported this release with a multimedia one-woman show, playing guitar in synch with films projected onto a giant screen. The companion DVD includes over 90 minutes of art films, previously unreleased music videos, interviews, commentary, and an innovative guitar lesson.

Her fall 09 USA multimedia tour included a touching tribute to the memory of Michael Jackson.

http://www.jenniferbatten.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jenniferbatten

G-TARANAKI

• Friday 12 August - Concert at TSB Stadium (5.30pm - 11.00pm)
• Saturday 13 August - Concert at TSB Stadium (5.00pm - 11.00pm)