Chieli Minucci keeps Special EFX name and spirit going
By Ross Boissoneau
Chieli Minucci has been a force in modern electric jazz for more than 40 years, since founding the band Special EFX with percussionist George Jinda in 1982. Either under his own name or that of the band he’s released over 30 albums. He’s played with pop artists Celine Dion, Lou Reed, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez and Jewel as well as contemporary jazz artists Kirk Whalum, Maysa, Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, Bernie Williams and numerous others. He has won three Emmy Awards and been nominated 10 times and contributed to film soundtracks and stage productions.
From the start, Special EFX’s music was a heady brew that combined rock, Latin rhythms, and instrumental jazz (go ahead, call it smooth if you must). When the duo separated in 1995, Jinda continued to perform under the name Special EFX, while Minucci recorded and performed under his own name. After Jinda’s death in 2001, Minucci reclaimed the band moniker, performing under the name Chieli Minucci and Special EFX or Special EFX All Stars.
He’s weathered the sea changes in the industry, from new technology to label consolidation. “When we started in 1982 we didn’t know CDs were coming. CDs were a boom for a lot of us, plus the kind of music we played became popular. I raised a family doing fusion music,” he says wonderingly.
Chieli Minucci
“Now I’m glad I’m not just starting out. There’s way more competition. People can make beautiful recordings at home.”
These days he splits his performances between shows under his own name and the band name. “It’s all kind of me,” says Minucci. It all depends on the gig, whether he’s hired to lead a local group or bring in a band. When it’s the latter, he’s typically billed as Chieli Minucci and Special EFX All-Stars. “A good example is I played in Florida last year and did a show with Joel Rosenblatt on drums, Brian Bromberg on bass and Eric Marienthal on sax,” says Minucci. “They knew a bunch of my songs, especially from the 80s. It was a super-high-intensity show.”
He often performs with keyboardist Lao Tizer under the band name – either his or Tizer’s. “I learned his music and do a couple of my tunes,” he says. Recently, he was invited to headline a festival in Portugal, with saxophonist Nelson Rangell and keyboards by Jay Rowe, with a drummer and bassist from the German house band.
Whatever the nom de plume, it always sounds like no one but Chieli Minucci. “It’s another way of talking about the same thing,” he says.
He plays a 1984 Pensaseur with D’Addario 009s. “I’m a D’Addario user for the most part.” On his Gibson Les Paul he uses 10s and 9s, while for his Gibson 175T he prefers flatwound 12s.
On acoustic he uses 12s from Labella, bronze strings with a coating of silk and steel. He also uses Labella nylon strings. Minucci has three guitars built by Dutch luthier Theo Scharpach.
He recently released three new recordings: Return to Budapest With Love, a 1990 live concert recording of Special EFX from its early days on tour in Europe, a mainly acoustic solo project Someone’s Singing, and his 40th anniversary Special EFX CD, Twenty Twenty 2.
While the number of gigs have decreased as he’s grown older and the fusion and smooth jazz he is identified with have faded in popularity, he loves playing as much as he ever has. “I still like it like it’s a hobby,” Minucci says. “I did 40 shows in 2023 That’s a good amount. Last year it was about ten less.
“I recently saw some friends in the city, and was invited to get up there and play. There is nothing like it when you have a good sound on stage and the band is in synch with the audience.”
Ross Boissoneau is a regular contributor to Something Else! Reviews, Northern Express and Local Spins. He’s written for the All Music Guide, Jazziz and Progression Magazines, and is a member of the Downbeat Critics Poll.
