“What I got out of playing with Michael was an awareness of the audience and the need to entertain them beyond the music,” guitarist Jennifer Batten says. She performs Thursday night at Knuckleheads.
There’s no hiding the biggest item on Jennifer Batten’s resume. She was 29 years old and a guitarist in several Hollywood groups when she was selected out of a field of about 100 other guitarists to join Michael Jackson on his “Bad” world tour in 1987. She would stay with him through two other world tours: “Dangerous” and “HIStory.”
Q. Talk about what inspired you to pick up a guitar.
A. Jealousy inspired me. My sister got one and I didn’t. … I was 8 years old at the time and into the Beatles and the Monkees. My dad bought me an electric guitar. I started taking lessons right away and learned how to read out of the beginners books. I was diligent about practicing 30 minutes a day. Then the obsession grew, and I practiced two hours a day. And once I graduated from the Musicians Institute (in Hollywood), I was practicing eight to 10 hours a day.
When did you realize this was going to become your calling?
I announced to my mother when I was 12. I told her that’s what I wanted to do. She told me it was a very competitive business, but when you’re 12, that doesn’t mean anything because it was what I wanted to do. So I went for it.
What was your first public gig?
I didn’t play in a band until after I had graduated from high school. I was in my early 20s before I played outside of my bedroom closet. My first public gig was in 1980 at a coffee shop. I made $12.50 playing jazz standards with another guitar player.
What was your first big break?
Michael Jackson. I went from playing in three different bands and doing one-hour showcases in Hollywood to playing with the biggest entertainer in the world.
Me and about 100 other people auditioned. It wasn’t with a band, which was kind of weird. I just played solo to a video camera. It was a one-time shot, no callback. Michael watched the video later. He never really told me I had the job. I was told to come down and rehearse, and they’d see how it went. Three months later, I was off to Japan.
That tour was like a paid vacation, the most exciting thing on earth. But we only played two or three times a week. The rest of the time we were free. We were paid tourists, really.
What did that tour teach you about music and the music business?
Well, I still haven’t learned anything about the business side. I think more than anything what I got out of playing with Michael was an awareness of the audience and the need to entertain them beyond the music.
That’s why my show is a multimedia show, with short films. It’s more entertaining to have more than just a guitar player up there. The show has a lot of images; there is a lot to see.
You got a chance to tour with Jeff Beck. How did that happen?
That was a gig I never dreamed of. He always had keyboard players, for decades. I just wanted his autograph. I tracked (Beck) down and got the autograph and handed him a copy of my first CD, which had just come out. I never imagined a couple of months later he’d call me and ask me to join him. He’s been my No. 1 guitar guy since I was a teenager. He still is.
What did he teach you?
About the limitless-ness of creativity. Jeff is a guy who never stops growing. He has the attention span of a gnat. He doesn’t like to repeat himself. He’s always looking for new ways to approach music.
Talk about your show. What are people going to see and hear?
It will be mostly music from my three records, but a variety of music, lots of different textures as well as the films.
I do a medley of Michael’s songs, six of them. For “Thriller” I have some zombie footage. To “Smooth Criminal,” there’s ultra-dramatic scenes from murder films. Some of the films have footage that is public domain. One has several Betty Boop cartoons.
So it’s just me, a solo show, but there’s some music embedded in some of the films. And there’s time for a Q&A if people want to hear stories.
What do people usually ask most about? Michael Jackson?
Actually it’s split between how I make the films, Michael and Jeff Beck.
I love her. I love rocking women, I always have.
according to....
http://www.batten.com/Current-Shows.html
she will also be at funkymonkeymusic on Wednesday at 6:00.
Posted by: That Guy | June 13, 2011 at 01:03 AM
Je pense que c'est très bon site et je le fais à mes favoris!
Posted by: casquette new era dc | June 13, 2011 at 02:46 AM
That is awesome. I wish I were up in KC to see her.
There is so much more to her than what is in this article. While she was at the Musicians Institute, she and Steve Lynch (Autograph) wrote a book about the 8-finger method (well before EVH or Jeff Watson (Night Ranger) did it.
Posted by: Bohica | June 13, 2011 at 08:23 AM
I was considering going to this, but the whole Michael Jackson Tribute idea may keep me away. I know Jennifer is an awesome musician, but I just can't stand anything the self-proclaimed "King Of Pop" has released since the Jackson 5 days. I'm not hating on her for getting the gig with Michael, because most musicians would jump at the chance. I just don't want to hear ANY of Michael's music ever again in any capacity.
Posted by: On the fence | June 13, 2011 at 08:39 AM