Chieli Minucci (born April 17, 1958) is an American guitarist who co-founded the band Special EFX.

Career

Minucci's father Ulpio Minucci was a concert pianist and composer who wrote the music to the 1955 song "Domani."

Minucci started Special EFX in 1982 with Hungarian drummer George Jinda. The band combined rock, Latin rhythm, and smooth jazz. When the duo separated in 1995, Jinda continued to perform under the name Special EFX. After Jinda's death in 2001, Minucci performed under the name Chieli Minucci and Special EFX. He recorded albums as a solo act, beginning in 1994 with Jewels. He has worked as a record producer and composer for Deborah Henson-Conant and Kim Pensyl, and as a sideman for Angela Bofill, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Noel Pointer and Roseanna Vitro.

Awards and honors

  • Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series, Daytime Emmy Awards, The Guiding Light, 1999, 2007, 2008[better source needed]
  • "Deep as the Night" was the Billboard #1 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year for 2018.

Discography

As leader

  • Jewels (JVC, 1995)
  • Renaissance (JVC, 1996)
  • It's Gonna Be Good (JVC, 1998)
  • Sweet on You (Shanachie, 2000)
  • Night Grooves (Shanachie, 2003)
  • Got It Goin' On (Shanachie, 2005)
  • Solos, Duos, & Trios (ChieliMusic, 2008)
  • Pop Today (ChieliMusic, 2008)
  • Raspberry & Cream (ChieliMusic, 2008)
  • Drippings (ChieliMusic, 2008)
  • Travels (Watchfire Music, 2009)
  • East of the Sun (Watchfire Music, 2009)
  • Someone's Singing (Watchfire Music, 2022)

With Special EFX

  • Special EFX (GRP, 1983)
  • Modern Manners (GRP, 1985)
  • Slice of Life (GRP, 1986)
  • Mystique (GRP, 1987)
  • Double Feature (GRP, 1988)
  • Confidential (GRP, 1989)
  • Just Like Magic (GRP, 1990)
  • Peace of the World (GRP, 1991)
  • Global Village (GRP, 1992)
  • Play (JVC, 1993)
  • Catwalk (JVC, 1994)
  • Body Language (JVC, 1995)
  • Masterpiece (Shanachie, 1999)
  • Butterfly (Shanachie, 2001)
  • Party (Shanachie, 2003)
  • A Night with Chieli Minucci & Special EFX (Shanachie, 2006)
  • Sweet Surrender (Shanachie, 2007)
  • Without You (ChieliMusic, 2010)
  • Genesis (Shanachie S405, 2013)
  • Deep as the Night (Trippin 'n' Rhythm, 2017)
  • All Stars (Trippin 'n' Rhythm, 2020)
  • Twenty Twenty 2 (ChieliMusic, 2022)
  • Return to Budapest with Love (ChieliMusic, 2024)

As sideman

With Anastacia

  • Not That Kind (Epic/Daylight, 2000)
  • Freak of Nature (Epic/Daylight, 2001)
  • You'll Never Be Alone (Epic/Daylight, 2002)
  • Pieces of a Dream (Epic/Daylight, 2005)

With Celine Dion

  • Let's Talk About Love (Columbia, 1997)
  • These Are Special Times (Columbia, 1998)
  • I'm Alive (Columbia, 2002)
  • A New Day Has Come (Columbia, 2002)
  • One Heart (Columbia, 2003)

With Deborah Henson-Conant

  • Caught in the Act (GRP, 1990)
  • Talking Hands (GRP, 1991)
  • Budapest (MCD Jazz, 1992)

With Chris Hinze

  • Saliah (Keytone, 1984)
  • African Dream (Keytone, 1991)
  • Music for Relaxation (Keytone, 1992)

With others

Music library production

YearLibraryCredit/Title(s)
1998–presentGotham Library/FirstcomComposer, performer music cues for television, movies, and radio
2000–2001Bloomberg RadioComposed music, including the main station IDs
1999Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibrarySecond Cup
1999Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryNeon Nights
2001Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibrarySex & Romance
2001Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryManhattan Silhouette
2002Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryX-Treme Sports
2002Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryOver the Edge
1999De Wolfe MusicLatin Power
1999De Wolfe MusicSmooth Jazz #4
1997Killer TracksThe 60's Vol. 1
1994FirstComAmerican Dream Vol. 2
1995FirstComLifestyles
1996FirstComAmerican Dream

External links