After going through his biography on Wikipedia, we shall sail in the same boat with Jazz Safari organizer Winston Mayanja that Chieli Minucci, who was here for the just concluded Nile Gold Jazz Safari, has to be one of the most decorated guitarists in Contemporary Jazz.
Minucci, an American of Italian descent, is described as an adult contemporary, smooth jazz guitarist, composer, music producer, and arranger.
Born in New York City, Minucci was and is primarily known as the leader of the Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz group Special EFX. Minucci has recorded and performed with top pop artists such as Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony, Jessica Simpson, Anastacia as well as jazz artists Marion Meadows, Jay Beckenstein, Gerald Veasley, Nestor Torres, Bob Baldwin, and Lao Tizer with whom he flew into the country with for the Jazz Safari concert.
He was the white guy, with a sharp goatee that played a guitar passionately from the left hand corner of the Jazz Safari stage during Lao Tizer and Norman Brown’s performances. Weeks after the Jazz Safari concert, Minucci, through a message to Winston Mayanja, disclosed that he actually borrowed Myk Ouma’s guitar, albeit for the good reasons.
“I just finished this first draft of a composition I wrote while in Uganda. As soon as your friend Michael (Ouma Myko) lent me his guitar I wrote this, like magic. I swear! What do you think?”
read Minucci’s message to Mayanja.
After listening to the composition/ song titled Kampala, Mayanja had this to say; “I’ve had a listen to this song that Chieli has named ‘Kampala’, it has a Latin Jazz/Bossa Nova feel. It’s very soothing, I love it.”
Well, we shall wait to have a listen too! Good stuff Minucci!
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