Something has struck my curiosity regarding jazz music. I wonder, how does one achieve the gritty sound that some saxophone players put into their music, that gritty growl that sounds so amazing.? For example, this cover of Santana's "Europa" by a famed jazzman, Gato Barbieri (November 28, 1932-April 2, 2016). If you listen carefully, you might notice that this version sounds a little bit like that jazz tune, "Autumn Leaves". I know one way to make the growl is to roll your Rrrr's, but I don't think that's what this one is. A friend of mine, Bill McCann, a
blind trumpeter who actually is acquainted with Gato's music, says the growl is usually made in the player's throat. Someone even told me that a growl
is made when you literally hum while you play your instrument. Any sax players out there have another way to describe it for me? I tried putting CC18 at 127 in my MIDI project with Jazz and Big Band, but to me it only sounds like a flutter tongue that has been altered. Is there a way to add the kind of growl I'm thinking of?