Customer Reviews

Momentum

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jeff Beck was once quoted as being shocked when he saw Ms. Batten in person for the first time. To wit: "...I expected someone who was introverted and did nothing but practice all the time, because you'd have to do nothing but practice all the time to be that good!!!". Amen to that observation. I have followed with a passion her 2-handed techniques from her days as a GP magazine columnist. I got my 1st taste of what it could sound like from one of her GIT teaching tapes. NEVER could I dream that the amalgamation of her composition skills and technique (i.e., her total artistry) could be so beautifully, powerfully devistating as reflected on this and her other 2 CDs (5-stars for the lot of them). Just stunning stuff. Simply put, if anyone wants to hear a true guitar visionary apply her musical gift and craft in a spellbinding way - buy the CD(s) - be silent - just listen and absorb (sit down if you can - but you'll likely be too energized to allow it)! Who should know brilliance better than the maestro Jeff Beck; he is, he said she is, and the resultant truth is most obvious.

What a brilliant album! Too bad she is not getting the recognition she really deserves. Excellent and unusual compositions with a world tinge (Scotsman in the Caribbean? Her guitar really does sound like bagpipes! ). Lots of really interesting sounds and tones from a great guitarist! The rhythm section is also outstanding - Glen Sobel on drums is incredible. looking forward to the next effort.

I first heard of Jennifer back about 1980 when she was a Jazzbo, but looked like some coffee house hippie playing Smelly Cat. I went to GIT around 1990 and would sit in her one-on-one sessions she was awesome. Then hearing her with Jeff Beck, she is scary good. Every serious guitar player has to have Jennifer Batten CD's in their stack of CD's to study.

Brilliant execution of rock, jazz, and world music. Wonderful musical journey that'll take you places you've never been. Just wish guitar would've a bit louder in the mix. :-)

A well balanced mix of gut wrenching animal calls which beckons to the tribes of the musical kingdom. Plenty of notes and syncopation which runs rampant while the tropical effects weave aura around the tales igniting killer bees to miss your head. All of the songs are over 6 minutes, which never seem to lose focus if you felt compelled to determine whether or not the titles do the songs concept any justice. Bending is in full swing here. A great rhythm section with plenty of pictures to paint and although the lack of chords might eventually come to mind, the synergy of notes shadows any senseless or wasted notes from being played between the lines. Having seen the Jeff Beck and Batten lineup tour in 99 and 2001, I rate this as a 5 because the musicianship is very expressive & it challenges the senses. As STV and GTV (Situation and Game Television) plague Generation X with images of individualistic innuendos to battle wits with an un minded plot, the music spins!! Unplug This is right!!!!!!!

So the performances are outstanding, the production is beyond slick and JB's tone is tops. But this still sounds like Steve Vai doing a prog rock concept album without his usual nasal guitar sound. The songs are all 7-10 minutes long, there's far less shredding than what you would hope for, and there's few melodies or rythems that grab and squeeze. Great guitarist, but so what?

Jennifer is just outstanding! When Jeff Beck tours again with Ms. Batten, I'll go to see Jeff AND Jennifer. This album screams... both from a performance standpoint and musically. Jennifer, we want more!!!