Various Composers - Saxophobia. Celebrating the Sax Craze of the 1920's (Chad Smith)

Information

1. Rudy Wiedoeft - Sax-O-Trix
2. Rudy Wiedoeft - Valse Mazanetta
3. Rudy Wiedoeft - Saxophobia
4. Rudy Wiedoeft, Domenico Savino - Dans L’Orient
5. Rudy Wiedoeft - Valse Llewellyn
6. Victor Herbert - Kiss Me Again
7. Rudy Wiedoeft - Sax-O-Phun
8. Rudy Wiedoeft, Hugo Frey - Rubenola
9. Rudy Wiedoeft - Cloudy Days
10. Justin Ring, Frederick Hager - Gloria
11. Earl Carroll - Canary Cottage-One Step
12. Justin Ring, Frederick Hager - Danse Hongroise
13. Irving Berlin - You Forgot to Remember
14. Rudy Wiedoeft - Saxema
15. Rudy Wiedoeft, Hugo Frey - Valse Sonia
16. Rudy Wiedoeft - Saxarella
17. Rudy Wiedoeft - Valse Vanité
18. Rudy Wiedoeft - Saxophobia (Bonus Track)

Chad Smith, saxophones

Sinfonia of London

John Wilson, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Chandos

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This album, spearheaded by veteran multi-instrumentalist and Broadway virtuoso Chad Smith, pays tribute to Rudy Wiedoeft, a largely forgotten innovator of the saxophone. Invented in the 1840s, the instrument remained a novelty until Wiedoeft's virtuosic 1910s recordings and dance-band compositions helped elevate it into American popular culture, paving the way for its essential role in the jazz era. Though jazz's evolution eventually obscured Wiedoeft’s legacy, Smith—whose own diverse career spans major orchestral solos, iconic soundtracks, and collaborations with stars like Lady Gaga—shines a renewed light on this early pioneer's historical contributions.

Highly versatile woodwind artist Chad Smith is an acclaimed Broadway, studio, and concert performer. A fixture in the Broadway orchestras of Wicked and Legally Blonde, Smith has performed with elite ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, sharing the stage with legendary artists from Ray Charles to Lady Gaga. His extensive media footprint spans major film scores like Star Wars and television shows like The Simpsons. Dedicated to preserving music history, he created Sax-O-Philm, a multi-media tribute to saxophone pioneer Rudy Wiedoeft. Smith is an adjunct professor and program director at Montclair State University.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz