From lessons with a San Diego jazz guitarist to studying music at Pasedena City College to a stint at the Musicians Institute (where she graduated and then taught guitar), Jennifer has grown into one of the true giants of modern guitar music.

She struggled from the early 80s, gigging in small clubs, but when she won the covetted spot as Michael Jackson's guitarist in 1987, she went from playing before 100 people in a local bar to playing in front of 50,000 screaming fans in Tokyo (her very first gig with Jackson). Since then, she has taught privately, written 2 books on guitar technique, recorded 2 solo albums (1992's "Above, Below, and Beyond" and 1997's "Momentum"), recorded with greats like Natalie Cole, Carmine Appice, and Michael Sambello, and toured the world with Jackson as well as guitar legend Jeff Beck.

Jennifer's legato stylings and two-handed tapping technique is nothing short of breath-taking, and her forays into cultural musics in her solo work is nothing short of inspiring. Jennifer is a 6-string magician of the highest order.

Check out her web-site, www.batten.com and, if you've never heard her play, be sure to check out the music clips.

I had the good fortune to speak with Jennifer last spring, and she answered a few question for TinFoil readers. Check it out!

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1) What are your current projects?

I'M TRYING TO FINISH MY NEW CD THIS SPRING.

2) How does this differ from your past work?

I'M PROGRAMMING EVERYTHING MYSELF SO IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING. I'VE USED A LITTLE SPOKEN WORD IN IT AND A LOT MORE EXOTIC SOUNDS THAN IN THE PAST.

3) Do you have one project that you are most proud of as a guitarist?

MY LAST RECORD, "MOMENTUM".

4) Can you give our readers a run-down of your basic gear (live and/or studio)?

IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME. I THINK WHEN I GO OUT AGAIN I'LL USE MY PEAVEY 5150 HEAD AND CABS AND A DIGITECH STUDIO EFFECTS PROCESSOR. I WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE. IF I GO OUT WITH JEFF BECK AGAIN I'LL ALSO HAVE ROLAND GUITAR SYNTH GEAR.

5) Who would you cite as early influences, and who are you favorite new players?

JEFF BECK IS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE. I ALSO LIKE VAN HALEN AND GEORGE LYNCH A LOT.

6) Can you give a few tips to aspiring players?

TRY TO LEARN OFF YOUR FAVORITE RECORDS AND EMULATE THE SOLOS.

7) What are your future plans?

ONCE MY NEXT CD IS DONE I WANT TO HEAD INTO A COMMERCIAL FULL BAND PROJECT.

8) Thanx for talking to us, Jennifer!

CHEERS!!!

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