CHIELLI MINUCCI
Shanachie Records

Has the guitar always been your instrument of choice, or did you start in music with something else?

I fell in love with all things guitar when I was about 8 years old. Before that it was piano lessons, mainly classical. My father is a pianist, and was insistent on piano as the first instrument. But after seeing groups early on, like the Loving Spoonful, the Beatles, etc.....and mainly just falling in love with the cool shapes of various electric guitars, well....it was only a matter of time before my parents agreed to let me switch over. But it was a cheapo $25 acoustic at first....ugh!

You've been a household name in Smooth Jazz for many years now, both with Special EFX and as a solo act. You also do session work, compose for other musicians, plus do scoring for television and motion pictures. Of these myriad endeavors, does one area particularly inspire and energize you these days?

Touring with my buddies in Special EFX is the most satisfying of all these endeavors. It's always been that way for me. I've always loved traveling, but in particular when it's mixed with concert work. It's something I did as a teenager, in my first band, and as an adult I've always enjoyed it the most. All the work I do stems from this. If I'd never toured I never would've made the contacts that resulted in this other work. Being with a group of friends, making music, and experiencing new places is what it's all about for me!

There doesn't seem to be too much of the older Special EFX material available for listeners right now, other than the "Best Of.." compilation. Are there any plans to re-issue some of those seminal early albums that were so popular?

Yes, most definitely! My website, ChieliMusic.com, will soon have a new feature which will enable viewers to download the early CDs. That means the entire GRP series (CDs 1-9), as well as the JVC years. We're figuring this all out as I write this, but most likely it'll be possible to purchase the CDs entirely, or as individual tracks. Finally!

In your concert gigs, do you still get good reaction to the old Special EFX material, or do you pretty much concentrate on the newer stuff?

We mostly play a mixture of old and new. My show this year typically features the most popular recent hits, combined with the oldest 'fusion' material, mostly presented as long medleys. It's very much based on the original concept George Jinda and I had decided on years ago....mixing it all up so that the whole concert is a varied listing experience. There are a lot of impromptu improvised segments as well....duos, trios, etc....

You record now both as Special EFX and as Chieli Minucci. What is the difference creatively between those two personas?

Well, this is a bit tricky to answer clearly, since it's constantly evolving. After George passed away I was confused for a while, so the first couple of Special EFX CDs (Masterpiece & Butterfly) could almost have interchanged with some of my solo material. The challenge is to write and arrange the compositions so that they are contrasting. My plan has always been to feature more guitar work on my solo CDs, but it seems to me whenever I feature myself on the Special EFX tracks, well, it sounds like it could part of one of my solo projects too. What makes matters more frustrating is that when I first made a solo CD (Jewels 1995) my concept had been to make a CD of music that had nothing to do with the Special EFX sound. In other words, a more varied, 'rock/jazz/fusion' CD.....music that my partner wasn't interested in recording. That lasted only one year, since the record company was more interested in selling CDs, mainly through radio airplay. Typical artistic snag! So the Cd, JEWELS, is the only real 'fusion' mix I made.

The latest Special EFX CD, 'Party,' is the first project that finally made sense to me. I decided to use the EFX project as a springboard for other artists to be featured. In this case I focused on saxophonist, David Mann, who is our touring woodwind player. This way I can bring newer artists into the limelight little by little, as well as continue to feature my writing and arranging. The solo CDs then will contrast more sharply, or, at least that's the plan....stay tuned!

What is your perception of "Smooth Jazz" as a genre and format today?

It's pretty much the same as it has been for years....mainly R & B style music, but instrumental. The genre is the same as what was popular when I went to college.... Grover Washington, Jr., Earl Klugh....this kind of funky jazzy stuff. People always have loved this kind of mix.

If you were programming a Smooth Jazz radio station, what changes or new elements would you introduce to keep the sound fresh and interesting moving forward?

I would stop playing so many non-jazz'oldies' and non-jazz musics in general. There should be more focus on newer artists, and get back to playing more trendsetting styles. I believe most of the PDs are honestly trying to make for some good listening, but the smooth jazz stations are primarily 'background' music, at least during the daytime. Many stations have interesting programming at night....so there is a mix here... Many of the stations rely on 'cover' tunes as well, which makes the whole format sound so 'Musaky'...horrible.

The same stations which pioneered new and exciting music years ago have been gobbled up by corporate interests, which means the focus is more about making money now, rather than breaking new artists and playing interesting, varied music. It's not surprising though. This is all normal business. The same dilemma is across the board in this county's entertainment business. The rush to make the almighty dollar has resulted in a cycle of sorts, and we're now in a kind of revolution, which is partly due to the Internet and downloading, combined with a new, exciting entrepreneurial attitude by many artists! So the aging audiences will soon be replaced by a new generation of jazz-style music lovers....Unfortunately I'll be 65 years old by then, but... I will be still touring!!!

I've heard that your parting ways with George Jinda many years ago was amicable, and that you remained friends and even business partners through George's failing health and up until his death. Looking back on your time working together, is there an especially warm or memorable moment or period of time that you particularly treasure?

Of course, and there are many moments I could mention. When we're traveling on the road we tend to revel in the bawdiest, most outrageous stories, but I can tell you of a few of George's more memorable moments of another sort....

If you weren't involved with music, what else might you be pursuing that would be a satisfying source of creative fulfillment?

 Probably I'd purse writing stories. Novels, perhaps.

Donald Trump or George Steinbrenner?

Eh?

Yankees or Mets?

The Mets, of course! I grew up in Queens, NY! Actually, I was sort of the Mets 'guest guitarist' at a couple of recent Mets events back in 2003.

First, the annual fundraiser for families of victims of 9/11. Al Leiter and I entertained a bunch of people last Christmas....he read Christmas carols to the kids, while I followed by performing a few solo guitar songs! Then I entertained on the Mets 2003 opening day fundraiser for cystic fibrosis... naturally my son, Gianluca, attended along with me!

What most important bit of advice would you impart to a young musician just starting out in the jazz/smooth jazz arena?

Study what you love, play music with others who you enjoy being with, keep being teachable! Beyond that it's all icing on the cake....writing good music, learning how to arrange, trying to make a difference and improve the way things are by creating a new idea....In the end, it's about showing up and being the best you can possibly be!