He has enjoyed a long term playing partnership with altoist Steve Buckley in their bands Orchestra Rafiki, Buckley /Batchelor Quartet and most recently with their award winning international collaboration Big Air, featuring New York based Myra Melford and Jim Black.
Jumpin' Jungle Jam: Characters such as Baloo and King Louie from The Jungle Book, Rafiki and Timon from The Lion King, and Tantor from Tarzan feature on this float, styled to look like the jungle.