Thriller

The drummer on 'Billie Jean' — Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー — was a jazz musician who had played with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard while still in college. His name 'Ndugu' (Swahili for 'brother') was given to him by Herbie HancockHerbie Hancockハービー・ハンコック during his time in Hancock's avant-garde Mwandishi band. He also played with Weather Report. Pop history's most recognizable drum groove was the work of a jazz drummer. Chancler also played drums on 'P.Y.T.' and 'Baby Be Mine' on Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン's Thriller.

When Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ offered to produce Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン, Epic Records rejected him — 'Quincy's too jazzy.' That was exactly Jones's intent. In a 2018 interview he said: ''Baby Be Mine' is pure Coltrane — it's got pop lyrics and a beat, but the essence is Coltrane. Getting the young kids to hear bebop is what I'm talking about.' A man who studied under Nadia Boulanger in Paris, played trumpet in Dizzy Gillespie's big band, and arranged for Sinatra-Basie smuggled bebop into the best-selling album of all time.

Rod TempertonRod Tempertonロッド・テンパートン — who wrote 'Thriller,' 'Rock with You,' and 'Off the Wall' — was a former fish filleter from Cleethorpes, England, and keyboardist of funk band Heatwave. When Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ called him, he hung up thinking it was a prank. 'Thriller' was originally titled 'Starlight,' but Jones said it wasn't strong enough for an album title. Temperton wrote 200–300 alternatives in his hotel room before landing on 'Thriller.' He composed Vincent Price's spoken-word script in a taxi on the way to the studio — Price recorded it in two takes.

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.

Quincy JonesQuincy Jonesクインシー・ジョーンズ's jazz album The Dude (1981) and Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン's Thriller (1982) were recorded just a year apart with nearly the same rhythm section — Greg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganesグレッグ・フィリンゲインズ (keys), JR Robinson (drums), Louis JohnsonLouis Johnsonルイス・ジョンソン (bass), Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da Costaパウリーニョ・ダ・コスタ (percussion), Steve LukatherSteve Lukatherスティーヴ・ルカサー (guitar), Rod TempertonRod Tempertonロッド・テンパートン (songwriter). The Dude was essentially the jazz-side rehearsal for Thriller.

The rhythm guitar foundation of 'Beat It' was laid by Paul Jackson Jr.Paul Jackson Jr.Paul Jackson Jr. — a fusion guitarist whose regular gigs were jazz albums with George BensonGeorge Bensonジョージ・ベンソン, Al Jarreau, and Marcus MillerMarcus Millerマーカス・ミラー. Eddie Van Halen's solo gets all the attention, but it's Jackson Jr.'s Gibson ES-335 cutting that drives the groove. He also played guitar on 'The Lady in My Life' from Thriller.