Special EFX

Special EFX is a contemporary jazz band formed in 1983 by guitarist Chieli Minucci and percussionist George Jinda. Minucci had earlier worked with the New York R&B group the B. B. & Q. Band, and the new band made its first albums for GRP before moving to JVC and later Shanachie. Jinda died in 2001. Minucci still leads the group, which now tours as Special EFX featuring Chieli Minucci.

Modern Manners (1985) earned a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical. Masterpiece (1999) opened the band’s Shanachie years, and “Cruise Control”, from Butterfly (2001), spent five weeks at No. 1 on smooth jazz radio, with Party following in 2003. Deep as the Night (2017) and All Stars (2020) came out on Trippin’ N Rhythm. In the early days the band leaned heavily on world music; later records moved towards acid jazz, with touches of progressive fusion-rock.