Early in her career, Jennifer Batten made a name for herself in the guitar underground, and pretty soon, several guitar magazines started writing about her abilities as a musician and her highly original approach to the electric guitar.
Playing in Michael Jackson's support band was to become a mayor turning point in her career. After being picked from over a hundred other guitarists, she effectively toured for one and a half years, performing with other highly skilled musicians in front of more than 4.5 million people.
When Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band in '89, they joined forces for 3 years on the CDs "Who Else!", and "You Had It Coming" which were both supported by world tours.
Jennifer has written two books on music and recently released her third solo CD/DVD entitled "Whatever". With this 3rd effort, she's ventured into electronica, vocal samples, and film. She's supporting her latest release with a multimedia one-woman show, playing guitar in synch with projected films. The companion DVD includes over 90 minutes of art films, previously unreleased music videos, interviews, voice-overs and an innovative guitar lesson.
Jennifer Batten on tour with L1®in Europe
This is what Jennifer had to say about L1®:
"At home I use 2 L1®model II systems 8 feet apart and hang an 8 foot screen between them with a makeshift hangar on the tops. (I'll have stand alone screens in Europe) I run my backing tracks through channel 3 and can control that volume with my laptop which also sends the films to the projector. I'm running my Digitech processor through a stereo Palmer speaker emulator and then directly into the BOSE L1®. That's it-no amps-no power amps-no mixer. After hernia surgery... I'm in heaven with the low maintenance!"
Have a look at her videos on YouTube or check out our LINKS page to find more sites and video around Jennifer and Bose L1®in general.
We had the possibility to catch up with Steve Rothery from Marillion, who was kind enough to answer some questions for us about The Wishing Tree, his acoustic project with Hannah Stobart.
Good to have you here; what have you been up to recently?
The year started with me finishing the recording and mixing of the album "Ostara" by the Wishing Tree followed by the second leg of the Marillion tour promoting our album "Happiness is the road". We then played two 3- day fan club conventions, one at Center Parcs in the Netherlands to 2600 people and another a few weeks ago in a theatre in Montreal. Great fun but quite hard work as we have to learn and play three different 2-hour plus sets. The Wishing Tree also performed at both conventions (with different musicians) so I was a little busy to say the least.
Both the Marillion album and the Wishing Tree album have been very well received by the fans and the media alike. I'm about to sign a worldwide licensing deal with Edel for the Wishing Tree album so will hopefully be touring with it later in the year. A free download of the song "Hollow Hills" and sound clips from the other tracks can be found at.
And Wishing Tree rehearsal footage is online on YouTube
Photogallery (click to enlarge):
What do you think describes Wishing Tree's sound best?
Well, to quote an album review from the Montreal Gazette: "gleams with pristine natural-world imagery that?suits Stobart's purity, and with meticulously crafted pastoral?soundscaping. Rothery allows himself a few spotlight solos, but?there's no guitar-god ego to corrupt this marvel of understated grace"
How have you been using Bose L1®’s and how have they helped you?
I've used the Bose L1®'s for a series of guitar clinics I gave early last year and we managed a day of Wishing Tree rehearsals at the Marillion studio "the Racket club" using the L1®'s followed by a warm up concert at the Pendley Court theatre again using the L1®'s. I also hope to use them on an acoustic tour to promote the Wishing Tree album later in the year. They are an amazing system, such warmth and clarity. I've never heard my acoustic guitars sound as good through a standard PA.
What is happening next for The Wishing Tree/Marillion?
Marillion have a festival in Sweden and a concert in Bulgaria in June. We're about to start work on an acoustic album which we'll tour across Europe from October. The Wishing Tree is looking at playing some European dates in early August.
After several try-outs in Belgium and the Netherlands the Bose 5.L1VE show will go on tour in Europe. The show is produced in close cooperation with Jaap Drupsteen. Famous for his audiovisual art and projects, this artist was pleased to work with Bose on the new European show. Jaap initially connected with Bose about two years ago when he was researching the L1®'s capabilities. Jaap quickly became an endorser and currently uses the L1®for his innovative video/ audio performances.
5.L1VE show. What it is.
The 5.L1VE show is a 40 - 45 minute event were a live guitarist hosts and plays with an on screen 'virtual' band. Apart from a lot of music that will highlight the astounding possibilities of the L1®, the guitarist will also use different animations to explore some of the more technical features of the L1®. Every country will be working with their own, native speaking Guitarist. As of now, the shows in Belgium and Holland were set up for up to 300 people, but there also were some intimate performances with a maximum of 6 to 20 people. Most larger shows saw additional support from other bands, to ensure an evening-filling program. The smaller shows however, gave the attendees the chance to plug in themselves and try out the system with instruments of their own.
5.L1VE show. Who hosts it
Bose chooses to work with the best. Some examples:
In Holland and Belgium Bose has worked with Joost Vergoosen to great avail. Other projects of his include playing for Ilse de Lange, the 'Echoes of Pink Floyd'-tour and Kayak.
In Germany and Austria Bose has successfully worked with Robert Shumy. Robert has his own band playing old school rock'n roll all over Europe.
In the UK we have worked with Robbie Gladwell (myspace). Robbie is well-known for playing in Steve Harley's Cockney Rebel.
5.L1VE. Where
All European countries will work together with their Music Partners. They all have got the invitation to host the 5.L1VE show. Ask your dealer when the show is coming to your town.
We are proud to announce DeMars Guitars™ as the newest addition to the ToneMatch®program! DeMars Guitars™ is an American manufacturer based in Norwich, Vermont. Their innovative designs and features lets them deliver world-class acoustics from a chambered solid body instrument.
To learn more about DeMars Guitars™ please visit them on the web at www.demarsguitars.com. We first met owner Dan Demars and his fine instruments last year at the NAMM show. After our initial encounter, we cooperated with Cliff Hendrickson and Mike Z on developing customised ToneMatch®presets for their Viridis guitar (steel and nylon string) as well as their four- and five string Long Trail bass. We're very pleased to share the results of this work with you. The Demars preset bank is available for download here.
Dan Demars is quite positive about the whole experience at our HQ:
"First, it's certainly nice to be part of this. You have no idea how flattering it is for a small firm like ours to be considered by Bose for the developments of tonal presets for our instruments. To be among a select number of industry legends like Taylor, Breedlove, NS Design & Lakland (among others) - and by Bose of all companies! Although I'm understandably proud and pleased with the design and sound of our guitars and basses as they are, never have they sounded better than through an L1 system."
Last September, we attended the 'Salon De La Musique' in Paris for the second time. For four days, more than 36.000 visitors came to see what's new in the music industry. We had a great experience with our BOSE L1VE booth as the quality demonstrations by our ToneMatch™ partners had generated a fair share of buzz amongst the visitors.
We'd like to thank them all for making it a memorable experience for us and the audience who attended the live performances.
Our own French L1® house band Zimboom:
- Brian Swerdfeiger from Taylor Guitars,
- Selmer,
- Hohner.
- Gibson electric – click here to hear the demo recorded straight from the T1's.
