Off the Wall

Brazilian percussionist Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da Costaパウリーニョ・ダ・コスタ had worked with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, and Milt Jackson before earning Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ's trust. He played percussion on all three Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン–Jones albums: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. The distinctive cuíca (Brazilian friction drum) that colors 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' was Da Costa's own idea. DownBeat called him 'one of the most talented percussionists of our time.'

The brass sound threading through Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン's three albums was created by members of Seawind, a jazz-fusion band from Hawaii. Trumpeter Jerry HeyJerry Heyジェリー・ヘイ was discovered by Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ at The Baked Potato, an LA jazz club, and became Jones's 'first call' horn arranger. Hey, Larry Williams (sax), Kim Hutchcroft (sax), Bill Reichenbach (trombone), and Gary Grant (trumpet) played the horn section on Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad — defining MJ's sonic signature.

Jazz guitarist Phil UpchurchPhil UpchurchPhil Upchurch had no intention of playing on Off the Wall. He stopped by the studio just to say hello to Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ, who stuck a guitar in his hands and said 'play this one.' Upchurch ended up recording on 'Workin' Day and Night' and other tracks. For a veteran jazz guitarist with nearly 30 solo albums, this became his most widely heard work.

Jazz guitarist George BensonGeorge Bensonジョージ・ベンソン heard Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン's Off the Wall (1979) and decided to join Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ's Qwest Records. Jones assembled the same team — Rod TempertonRod Tempertonロッド・テンパートン (songwriter), Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da Costaパウリーニョ・ダ・コスタ (percussion), Jerry Hey (horn arrangements) — to produce Benson's 'Give Me the Night' (1980), which hit #1 on both the jazz and soul charts. The same crew that made MJ's pop worked just as well for a jazz guitarist.

Larry CarltonLarry Carltonラリー・カールトン played guitar on 'She's Out of My Life' (1979) — the ballad MJMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン famously cried on every take. At the time, Carlton was a member of The Crusaders and the go-to soloist on Steely Dan's 'The Royal Scam' and 'Aja' — the epitome of fusion guitar. He was also on Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ's 'The Dude' in the same period, moving fluidly between jazz/fusion and pop. Jazz's 'Mr. 335' added color to one of pop's most emotional ballads.