Magyar
A GR1993 Records is delighted to announce the releases of the US based Special EFX’s two new releases.
Special EFX featuring Chieli Minucci – Twenty Twenty 2 – GR168, 2LP
In September 2023, the double vinyl album Special EFX featuring Chieli Minucci – Twenty Twenty 2 was released, which is the band’s last studio album and celebrated 40 years of Special EFX. Over the past forty years, dozens of world stars have appeared in the band.
Chieli Minucci, a three-time Emmy-winning and Grammy nominated guitarist-composer-producer-arranger, teamed with Hungarian percussionist George Jinda to form Special EFX in 1982, a bountiful partnership that ushered the band to the top of the charts, saw them embark on extensive concert tours with stops at some of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, and crafted a distinctive brand of music that incorporates jazz, rock, fusion, blues, pop and world music.
The creative team of Twenty Twenty 2 includes vocalist Maysa Leak, bassist Jerry Brooks and Gerald Veasley, Ric Fierabracci, Dave Anderson and Gianluca Minucci, keyboardist Lao Tizer, Jay Rowe and Oli Silk, percussionist Mino Cinélu and Philip Hamilton, saxophonists Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, and Richie Cannata, drummers Joel Rosenblatt, Lionel Cordew, and John Favicchia, violinist Antoine Silverman, and trumpeter Lin Rountree.
More information and order:
Special EFX – Return to Budapest with Love – GR-171, CD
While still only a few years old as a band, Special EFX (Chieli Minucci & George Jinda) performed at the famous Petőfi Csarnok in Budapest, Hungary on 2 occasions in the early 1990s. Originally recorded to analogue tape, the recordings on this CD were compiled from both of those events, now transferred to digital compact disc. Being a native Hungarian, these were especially significant concerts for George Jinda, as well as his frequent writing partner, the legendary Béla “Szakcsi” Lakatos. Actually, this was Szakcsi’s first time performing with the band on stage. In the spirit of Special EFX’s artistic direction, much of the music here was improvised, particularly the duet pieces between Chieli & George. The audience turn out and reception were more than the band could have hoped for. Sadly both George and Szakcsi are no longer with us, but their memory lives on here, through their music.
More information and order:
