Genres: Jazz
Styles: Crossover Jazz, World Fusion
Instruments: Guitar

For 14 years (1982-96), guitarist Chieli Minucci was half of the popular World Fusion band Special EFX, forming a musical partnership with percussionist George Jinda and creating accessible yet slightly unusual music. Minucci attended Ithica College, playing guitar in a variety of rock and pop groups and had developed his own approach to the guitar when he met up with Jinda in 1982. Their band recorded extensively with GRP (1984-92) and also made three CDs for JVC (1993-95) before finally breaking up. Minucci in the 1980's and 90's also worked as a producer and writer for other musicians including Deborah Henson-Conant and Kim Pensyl plus he worked in the studios. Minucci appeared on a variety of r&b dates by the likes of Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Noel Pointer and Angela Bofill and began his solo career in 1995, cutting three CDs as a leader without Jinda for JVC during 1995-97.

- Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)