Michael Jackson’s guitarist Jennifer Batten coming to Alexander’s in Chester

Jan 21 2010 Flintshire Chronicle

THE King of Pop may be gone but one of his most eye-catching collaborators goes from strength to strength and is heading for Chester.

Guitarist Jennifer Batten was part of Michael Jackson’s band on the superstar’s Dangerous and HIStory tours as well as backing him on the 1993 Super Bowl half-time performance.

She became recognisable for her outrageous hairstyles and costumes.

Batten’s solo albums include her 1992 debut Above Below and Beyond, produced by Stevie Wonder’s guitarist Michael Sembello; and her 1997 world beat influenced Jennifer Batten’s Tribal Rage: Momentum.

Apart from Jackson, she has worked with the likes of Jeff Beck and Natalie Cole.

Between 1994 and 1999, Batten joined Dave Rodgers and Domino, as featured guitarist on theEurobeat songs Sun City, Music For the People, Fly and Woa Woa Woa.

Batten’s third solo album, Whatever, was released in Japan in 2007 and in the US in 2008.

She has worked with a designer to create a brand of guitar string dampers called the Batten String Damper and has written two music books.

She will be playing live at Alexander’s Jazz Theatre in Rufus Court, Chester, on Monday, February 22. Ring 01244 340005 or visit www.alexanderslive.com for details.